Chapter 57
Jason’s voice cracked, his eyes glazed with tears. “Did it hurt Natale this much back when she learned the truth?”
Chandler drew a slow breath.
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What Jason had done back then was unforgivable. No woman in her right mind would forgive something like that, unless she had Stockholm syndrome. And Natalie? She was as sane as they care.
But that was a thought Chandler kept to himself. No way he’d actually say it out loud.
“What you did back then was a little over the top, Mr. Pereira. But Mrs. Pereira does love you. I’ve seen everything she’s done for you these past three years. She’s just upset right now. Give her time to cool off, and she’ll come back. I’m sure of it.”
Jason’s eyes lit up. “You think Natalie will forgive me?”
Chandler forced out a reassuring lie. “Of course. Mrs. Pereira loves you. Once she cools down, she’ll surely come back to you.”
A glimmer of hope cut through Jason’s despair, filling him with renewed energy.
Of course, Natalie had loved him deeply. She’d given him her whole heart. There was no way she could just stop loving him overnight.
She was just still angry. If he could show her how much he truly meant it, they might get back to the happiness they’d once
shared.
Besides, if she’d really wanted to disappear for good, she wouldn’t have shown up in Grendale like this. She wanted him to see
her.
Yes. That had to be it.
Natalie loved him most–that was her message to him.
Once his heart finally calmed, Jason came back to life. Now that he knew where she was, he wouldn’t let her go again.
Meanwhile, when Natalie got back to the nightclub, Bella and Benjamin were already there, sitting together and chatting about
something.
As Natalie took her seat, Bella asked, “Where have you been? We’ve been waiting forever.”
Natalie told them everything that had just happened.
After three seconds of silence, Bella snapped, “Fuck! That spineless bastard Jason actually had the nerve to ask you to forgive him? How fucking shameless can he get?
“Who the hell gave him the balls to say such disgraceful shit? He deserves to be haunted until he learns how to be a decent
human!”
Benjamin gave her a thumbs–up. “Damn, no one does savage like you, Bella!”
Without missing a beat, Bella fired back, “Fuck off!”
Natalie drained her glass in one go.
Bella threw an arm around her shoulders and ventured cautiously. You can’t waver on this, Natalie. Once a man betrays you, he’ll keep doing it. There’s no middle ground.”
Natalie shot her a sideways glance and laughed. “Do I really seem that dumb to you?”
Bella studied her, her expression deadly serious. “Not dumb, no. I’m just worried, okay?”
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Chapter 57
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Natalie threw an arm around Bella’s shoulders. “Relax. Going back to him would mean spitting on everything I used to be—that wonian who stood lost in the fog, bleeding from every wound he gave me.‘
There was never any chance she’d go back.
After the gathering, everyone started heading home.
S
Natalie called a designated driver and took a car back to her hotel. Since Benjamin going in the same direction as Bella, they decided to share a ride.
Bella spent the whole ride deep in thought. After a while, she muttered, “Ben, we should throw a party–call it a welcome–back thing for me. Try to get all the promising guys in Grendale to come
Benjamin looked confused. “What? Is it spring already?”
Bella punched his arm. “Shut up. I’m just trying to set Natalie up while we’re at it. The best way for a woman to get over her ex is to find someone new. Works every time.”
Benjamin finally caught on. “Oh, got it. Glad you’re back in town to do something useful. Leave it to me.”
