Chapter 61
A split second later, Natalie suddenly slapped Sienna agaln
Sienna clutched her cheek, her eyes burning with rage. “Naalle, you fucking-”
Natalie didn’t let her finish. “Mrs. Spencer, Sienna was glaring at me. It scared me. That was just a reflex, completely unintentional.”
Daphne looked about two seconds from ripping Natalie apart. How dare she treat Sienna like that right under her nose?
Fury twisted her features.
Just then, Natalie changed the subject. “Didn’t you say dinner was ready? Let’s eat.”
The mood shifted instantly. Daphne and Sienna exchanged glance, swallowing their anger.
Especially Daphne, who forced what she thought looked like a natural smile. “Yeah, of course. Let’s eat first. We can talk while we eat.”
Natalie shot them a glance and walked ahead to the dining room.
Sienna trailed behind, clutching her stinging cheek, her eyes burning with fury. “Mom, I swear I’ll make her pay for this.”
Daphne soothed her. “Yeah, of course. Once we’ve got the video to blackmail her, you can beat the hell out of her, and trust me, she won’t even think about fighting back.”
Natalie walked into the dining room and took her seat without waiting for Daphne.
When Daphne finally came in, she signaled Heidi with a look before turning on the charm. “Natalie, try this. See if it’s still as good as you remember.”
In front of Natalie was a plate of lemon–herb poached sea bass, a dish she’d loved since childhood. But after Sienna came home and complained that she couldn’t stand the smell of fish, Daphne had banned it from the kitchen entirely.
Natalie still remembered how, just because Sienna had casually mentioned that she smelled like fish, Daphne had ordered someone to keep her in the swimming pool for a full day and night to “wash off the stench“.
It had been early winter. The icy water had seeped into her bones, gnawing at her until even her marrow felt frozen. Her skin had festered, raw and peeling.
If it hadn’t been for the high fever and severe inflammation she didn’t know how much longer they would’ve left her there.
Natalie stared at the poached sea bass, and suddenly, the same agony she’d felt in the swimming pool flooded
back.
Her face turned ghostly white, and her hands balled into tight fists. Only then did she notice the slight tremble running through her body.
Natalie stayed quiet for a long moment before drawing a breath. Gradually, she steadied herself and looked up to see Daphne and Sienna staring at her, their eyes fixed on her reaction.
“You had this made for me?” Natalie asked.
Sienna’s tone was sharp with bitterness when she said, “Of course. The second you got off the phone with
1/2
Chapter 61.
+26 BONUS
she had the kitchen whip this up just for you. You should really try it. We wouldn’t want her kindness to go unappreciated, would we?”
How very thoughtful of her.
Natalie smiled. “Well, if it’s Mrs. Spencer’s thoughtful gesture, it would be rude to refuse. Let me have a taste.” She lifted her fork and went straight for the tenderest part of the sea bass. Even out of the corner of her eye, she could see the eager gleam in Sienna’s and Daphine’s eyes as they watched from across the table.
Her smile widened. She took the bite, just as Sienna and Daphne had been waiting for.
Suddenly, her fork clattered to the table. “Why do I… feel dizzy…”
Sienna dropped the act, her face twisting into a triumphant sneer. “What did you expect, bitch?”
The words had barely left her mouth when Natalie slumped forward onto the table, unconscious. Without hesitation, Sienna strode over and shoved Natalie.
Daphne looked uneasy. “What if she wakes up in the middle of it?”
Sienna gave a smug grin. “Relax. I gave her three times the usual dose. That’s enough to take down an ox. Some weak–ass bitch like her doesn’t stand a chance.”
Daphne relaxed at her words.
All she needed were those damning videos of Natalie sleeping around. With that kind of leverage, she could blackmail Natalie into marrying the heir of Bluebrook Group and walk away with a fortune in wedding gifts.
Once Daphne got her hands on that dirt, Natalie wouldn’t have a way out, Every last dollar Natalie ever made would belong to Daphne for good.
