Ch. 121..130
Chapter 121
After regaining her composure, Suzanne interjected firmly. “That’s enough, Nathan. We’ve already talked things through. Let’s just put an end to this fruitless marriage.”
Nathan was taken aback by her words, feeling as though his heart had been wrenched from his chest.
Suppressing his emotions with a forced smirk, he approached the table and picked up the divorce settlement agreement.
As he skimmed through the document, Suzanne quietly placed a black pen on the table and suggested, “Once you’ve signed and submitted this, let’s get a divorce certificate at the city hall.
“I don’t want to prolong this any further, especially since I’m moving to another city.”
Nathan couldn’t believe Suzanne was planning to start anew in a different city. Was she truly set on making a clean break from him?
Frustration boiled within Nathan as he flipped through the agreement, yet he couldn’t bring himself to read a single word.
With a grumpy tone, he tossed the papers back onto the table and declared, “What’s written here is unacceptable. It needs to be
redrafted.”
Suzanne looked up at him in puzzlement. “What’s wrong with it? We don’t have children to consider, and I’ve stated that I don’t want any financial support. The clauses in this agreement favor you. What exactly are you unhappy with?”
Narrowing his eyes, Nathan asserted firmly, “That’s exactly it. If
people find out I didn’t provide anything for my ex-wife, what will they
13
think of me as a man?”
Suzanne was speechless. She hadn’t anticipated his concern for his reputation and image.
After a brief silence, she relented. “Fine. Just give me some money
then.”
However, Nathan seized her wrist and yanked her up from the wicker chair. He snarled, “Are you so eager to divorce me?”
Suzanne found his reaction ridiculous.
Considering his evident affection for Sally and the message he had sent Suzanne, it seemed unmistakable that he intended to end his marriage. Or was he attempting to openly showcase his affection for Sally?
Growing distressed at the thought, Suzanne met Nathan’s gaze with determination and declared, “You might be right about that.”
Nathan felt a sharp pang in his chest as her words struck him. Just then, his phone abruptly rang.
He released his grip on Suzanne and pulled out his phone. Glancing at the caller ID, he turned away to take the call.
“We’ve got a major issue, Mr. Morrison! The weapons and gears prepared for the special forces have been stolen!” Cole’s voice sounded anxious on the other end of the line.
When Nathan heard the news, his face turned dark. He swiftly ended the call and headed towards the door.
Suzanne, though bewildered, kept her eyes fixed on him. Her heart sank with each step he took. Just as Nathan reached for the door handle, he halted abruptly and turned back to face Suzanne.
He was accustomed to handling things independently and not having
to justify his actions to anyone. Yet, he now worried that Suzanne might misconstrue his sudden departure.
“I have to leave. There’s an emergency at the camp. We can discuss the divorce at a later time,” he stated curtly. With that, he opened the door and exited the room.
As the door closed behind him, Suzanne sank into the chair and
closed her weary eyes. Her heart throbbed painfully as if pricked by a
thorn.
She had never imagined that seeking a divorce would be so emotionally taxing
Despite knowing that Nathan didn’t love her, their marriage persisted
due to relentless circumstances, leaving her trapped in a deteriorating relationship.
Chapter 122
Chapter 122
Under the shimmering glow of the white moon, its light pierced. through the tangled branches and spilled onto the balcony.
In the dimly lit room, Suzanne tossed and turned restlessly before succumbing to sleep. Yet, her slumber was far from peaceful.
Beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead as her breaths
quickened. Within the darkness, she found herself lost and unable to discern her surroundings. The chilling wind scraped against her skin, sending shivers down her spine.
Amidst the eerie silence, the voices of a man and a woman
reverberated, their whispers akin to ghostly murmurs in the abyss.
“Suzanne, save us! It’s so cold… Run away, Suzanne! Don’t look back!” their voices pleaded, wrenching at Suzanne’s heart with each
desperate cry.
Suzanne sprinted aimlessly through the pitch-black surrounding senses consumed by fear as an ominous presence loomed over
The sinister voice echoed through the void like a haunting chant, “Kil her… Kill her, and the money is yours… Kill her!”
A shadowy figure materialized before Suzanne, its malevolent gaze piercing through the darkness. Its bloodied hands reached out and wrapped around her throat, suffocating her in its terrifying grasp.
In that instant, Suzanne’s eyes snapped open, and she hastily sat up in bed. Gasping for breath, she scanned her surroundings, finding solace in the familiar furnishings that surrounded her.
As she looked out of the window, the morning rays greeted her, dispelling the remnants of her unsettling dream.
She couldn’t help but scoff at the absurdity of her dream. To think she had imagined her parents crying out for her help when, in reality, they only ever sought financial assistance from her.
Feeling clammy from the cold sweat, Suzanne decided to freshen up. After tossing aside the covers, she retrieved a fresh set of clothes and made her way to the bathroom.
Half an hour later, she emerged in casual wear and ready to face the day.
As she descended the stairs, she caught snippets of Sally’s voice and stopped in her tracks. She looked over to find Sally and Florence engaged in conversation in the living room.
“You mustn’t do such a reckless thing again, Sally. How could I face your grandparents if anything happened to you?” Florence implored.
Sally flashed a reassuring smile “Don’t worry, Mrs. Morrison. I won’t do anything dangerous again. Besides, Nate has been keeping me company these past few days. He’s really lifted my spirits.”
Florence lamented, “It’s all Vera’s fault. She shouldn’t have those two together when they clearly aren’t in love. Otherwise of you would be suffering like this.”
However, Sally replied in a hushed voice, “I don’t think Grandma intended for this. I believe she’s been manipulated.”
Florence hesitated before giving an awkward smile, refraining from speaking ill of Suzanne behind her back.
Spotting Suzanne on the stairs, Sally raised her voice and declared, ” Nate told me he’s only treating me like that out of concern for
Grandma’s health. Once Grandma passed away, he plans to file for a divorce and take me as his wife.”
“We all know that’s the truth, yet you continue to put yourself in
harm’s way,” Florence sighed.
“Not anymore,” Sally reassured with a grin.
Florence gently held Sally’s hand and gave it a reassuring pat. She said, “Let’s be patient. However, it wouldn’t be fair to Suzanne if we prolong this any further.”
Sally furrowed her brow at her remark. “That can’t be. Nate will make things right for her.”
Florence let out a heavy sigh. “I just hope he handles everything properly.”
Unbeknownst to Florence, Sally’s eyes gave away her displeasure. Given their limited interactions over the past ten days, she hadn’t expected Florence to sympathize with Suzanne and speak up for her.
Meanwhile, Suzanne was taken aback by what she overheard.
Clenching her fists, her heart ached with the realization that Nathan, intended to divorce her. He was only waiting for Vera’s passing to ease his guilt.
Suppressing the sorrow within, Suzanne continued down Upon noticing her, Sally rose with feigned surprise and gree Good morning, Suzanne.”
Upon catching wind of this, Florence anxiously shifted her gaze towards the staircase. However, Suzanne ignored Sally and made a
beeline for the door.
Just as Suzanne reached for the handle, her phone suddenly rang. She stopped in her tracks to check the unfamiliar number.
Sally gazed at Suzanne’s lonely figure gleefully, her eyes gleaming with triumph.
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Chapter 123
Suzanne picked up the phone, greeted by the soft voice of a woman
on the other end.
“Hi, Suzanne. It’s Sienna. Remember me?” the voice asked.
“Sienna?” Suzanne blurted out in confusion, causing Sally to tense up and anxiously eavesdrop on the conversation.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I got your number from your mom. I’ve really hit a dead end,” Sienna confessed.
Before Suzanne could respond, her phone was suddenly whisked away. Startled, she whipped her head around to find Sally holding it and shot her a disapproving glare.
Looking rather nervous, Sally retreated a step and abruptly ended the call. She then offered an apology, “I’m sorry, Suzanne, but Nathan and I are deeply in love.”
Suzanne eyed Sally suspiciously, wondering about her sudde behavior. Pushing down her anger, she reached out her hand a
demanded, “Give it back!”
Florence, witnessing the scene, was puzzled by Sally’s actions as well. She hurriedly rebuked, “Why did you do that, Sally? Suzanne was
on a call.”
Sally forced a smile at Florence and attempted to justify herself. “I-I just wanted to apologize to Suzanne. Their marriage couldn’t last since Nathan has chosen me…”
Disgusted by Sally’s words, Suzanne swiftly retrieved her phone. Sally attempted to grab it back but hesitated, realizing her efforts were futile in thwarting Sienna’s attempts to contact Suzanne.
After reclaiming her phone, Suzanne hastily left the living room, eager to distance herself from Sally’s deceitful actions.
Once outside the Morrisons’ residence, she dialed Sienna’s number. The call connected instantly, accompanied by Sienna’s tearful sobs.
“Suzanne, please. I’m desperate. We’ve spent everything on my father’s cancer treatment and are drowning in debt. Please, I need the money back,” Sienna pleaded.
Suzanne’s heart clenched at Sienna’s distress. Despite not
recognizing Sienna, she couldn’t help but be moved by the desperate
cries on the other end.
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember who you are. I’ve lost my memories, but I want to help…” Suzanne began, but Sienna interrupted with a loud
outburst.
“How can you be so heartless? We grew up together, Suzanne. We were best friends. I helped you with everything-homework hores. I even shared my pocket money when you were in need!
“Remember when you dropped out in ninth grade and strugg make ends meet? You ended up falling ill.
“I was the one who nursed you back to health and gave you 20 thousand dollars for your medical bills. In college, I worked odd ju to save another 20 thousand dollars only for it to end up in your
hands.
“You asked for so much, yet blacklisted me when I needed a small favor in return! Do you have any idea how hurt and disappointed I’ve been all these years?
“It took that much money for me to see the real you. I guess that’s money well spent on my part to end our friendship here. I wouldn’t have contacted you if I had any other choice to save my father.”
D
As Suzanne listened to Sienna’s grievances, tears welled up in her eyes. She had no idea the depth of their past friendship or the sacrifices Sienna had made.
If Sienna’s words rang true, Suzanne acknowledged she deserved a few slaps for her ingratitude and selfishness.
“Where is your father hospitalized, Sienna? I’ll come visit him,”
Suzanne hastily inquired.
Though taken aback by Suzanne’s sudden offer, Sienna provided the hospital’s address.
Suzanne then rushed back inside the house, changed her clothes, and hastily gathered her belongings before darting out the door.
Sally watched Suzanne’s departure with a cold glare, her mind racing for a solution. She couldn’t allow Sienna and Suzanne to meet under any circumstances.
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Chapter 124
Before heading to the hospital, Suzanne made a brief stop at the nearby grocery store and picked up a fruit basket as a gift.
She then navigated her way to the oncology ward, guided by the address Sienna had provided.
Upon reaching the ward, Suzanne took a moment to compose herself before softly knocking on the door. When there was no response, she gently pushed the door ajar.
Inside the narrow room, six occupied hospital beds filled the space. Suzanne scanned the room, uncertain which bed belonged to
Sienna’s father.
Suddenly, a sweet-looking woman sporting black-rimmed glasses and clutching a water bottle popped up from the corner.
Observing her youthful appearance, Suzanne deduced tha
woman must be Sienna. She approached the woman smile. “Are you Sienna?”
Dumbfounded, Sienna nodded slowly. “Yes, I am. And you are
“I’m Suzanne,” came the reply.
Hearing that, Sienna studied Suzanne’s face for a long moment. Meanwhile, Suzanne placed the fruit basket on a nearby table and cast a brief glance at the frail figure resting in the bed.
arm
Not wanting to disturb Sienna’s father’s sleep, Suzanne turned back to Sienna and whispered, “Let’s talk outside.”
The suggestion brought Sienna back to reality. She quickly set the water bottle aside and drew the cubicle curtains before joining. Suzanne in the hallway.
10
Standing by the window, the two women stared out at the scenery in silence. After a long pause, Sienna broke the quietude.
“What’s Suzanne’s game here? Does she think she can skip her debt by having someone feigning amnesia?” Sienna’s tone dripped with disdain.
Suzanne sighed deeply. “I understand your resentment, Sienna. But I truly have no recollection of the past three years.”
Sienna adjusted her glasses and scoffed, “Did you get a brain. transplant or something?”
Suzanne replied, “The doctor mentioned I got my face done.”
Sienna scrutinized Suzanne’s features skeptically before exclaiming, Impossible! Your beauty looks natural. You smoothed the pointy chin and plumped up your cheeks. You look like some high school girl. You seem to be well-versed in current beauty standards.”
Suzanne showed a weary smile. Despite her reluctance, DNA confirmed her identity as Suzanne York.
Pulling out her phone, Sienna displayed the online transfer records Suzanne. She explained, “These are the transactions where you requested money from me.
“I transferred over 40 thousand dollars to you and also gave you 201 “I transferred over 40 thousand dollars t
thousand dollars in cash.
“I trusted our friendship and didn’t insist on an IOU. If you have any conscience left, please pay me back Even a small amount would
mean a lot.”
Suzanne browsed through the records with a heavy heart, consumed by shame. She returned the phone to Sienna and expressed her sincerest remorse. “I’m deeply sorry Sienna. I’ve been a terrible friend to you.”
Sienna regarded Suzanne with a solemn expression. Watching as Suzanne retrieved her phone from her handbag, Sienna listened as Suzanne inquired, “How much are your father’s medical bills?”
Taken aback, Sienna stammered, “20 thousand dollars since his
admission. He has an upcoming operation that requires around two hundred thousand dollars.
“Also, we need to repay relatives and friends who lent us another three hundred thousand dollars.”
“Let me make a call.” Suzanne gestured with her phone and stepped away, leaning against the wall as she dialed a number. Feeling tension grip her body, she took a deep breath and waited anxiously for the call to connect.
“Suzanne?” Nathan’s voice came through the line instantly. It was evident he hadn’t anticipated her reaching out first.
“It’s me,” Suzanne replied softly.
A brief silence followed from Nathan’s end, leaving Suzanne confused. She decided to break the silence and asked, “Can
“I’m swamped with work right now. I don’t have time to deal with divorce papers. We’ll talk about this later,” Nathan remarked co and decisively.
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Chapter 125
Suzanne rushed to clarify, “It’s not about the divorce. I just need a moment of your time.”
“Go ahead.” To her surprise, Nathan seemed to have softened-his voice devoid of its earlier coldness.
Suzanne glanced at Sienna, who wore an anxious and solemn expression. Gathering her courage, Suzanne took a deep breath and asked, “Can I withdraw six hundred thousand dollars from your
account? I’ll repay you, I promise.”
Nathan replied swiftly, “No need to pay me back. It’s your card. Use it
as you wish.”
“Thank you, Nathan.” Warmth flooded Suzanne’s heart, yet she still felt uneasy and guilty despite Nathan’s reassurance.
The conversation lapsed into another silence. Sensing thard tension, Suzanne prepared to end the call, but Nathan spok
“Did something happen?” he inquired.
Suzanne struggled to explain her situation to him, reluctant to b Nathan further when he was already overwhelmed with work.
“It’s fine. I can handle it.” She asserted, to which Nathan hummed i
response.
Just as Suzanne was about to conclude the call, Nathan stopped her abruptly.
“Anything else?” Suzanne asked in confusion..
Nathan hesitated briefly before responding with genuine concern, Tell me if you can’t handle it.”
Suzanne agreed and ended the call, feeling a sense of loneliness. She hadn’t expected a phone call to stir her broken heart so deeply.
After ending the call, Nathan gazed out of the window and let out a deep sigh. His subordinates, standing behind him, wore expressions
of surprise.
They wondered what call could be so important that Nathan
anxiously answered it in the middle of a meeting for the first time.
The subordinates speculated that the call might have been from Donald. With their curiosity satisfied, they quietly awaited the start of the meeting.
Meanwhile, Suzanne approached Sienna after concluding her call. Holding a bank card in her hand, she stated firmly, “I’m paving you back one hundred thousand with interest.
“I’ll lend you another five hundred thousand to cover your fat medical bills and your family’s debts.”
Sienna could hardly believe her ears. She stared at Suzanne in astonishment and bewilderment.
Pursing her lips, Suzanne added, “Honestly, I’m borrowing the money myself and will have to repay it eventually. Let’s draw up an IOU for the five hundred thousand.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Sienna covered her mouth as tears
streamed down her face.
She could finally afford her father’s surgery. Suzanne not only repaid. her with interest but also offered a substantial loan to help alleviate her family debt.
Knowing Suzanne for years, Sienna doubted the woman standing before her was the same selfish and egocentric Suzanne York she’d
known.
This compassionate and generous gesture seemed beyond Suzanne’s character.
As Sienna choked back tears, she nodded gratefully. “Thank you so much. Your kindness will never be forgotten. Let me write you an IOU right away.”
With that, Sienna hurried back into the ward to draft the IOU. Watching Sienna’s retreating figure, Suzanne couldn’t shake off a lingering sense of guilt and helplessness.
Sienna returned with the IOU in hand, and Suzanne promptly transferred the money.
With her concerns resolved, Sienna pulled Suzanne into a tight hug and buried her head into Suzanne’s shoulders. She expressed her gratitude through tearful thanks, her body trembling sligh
emotion.
Returning the hug, Suzanne carefully inquired, “Can we… again?”
“Have you really lost your memories?” Sienna asked doubtfully.
Suzanne nodded earnestly, locking eyes with Sienna in a gentle earnest gaze. Sienna managed a teary smile and nodded in return.
She refused to befriend the old Suzanne York, but she was willing to build a friendship with the woman in front of her.
“Absolutely. Let’s start anew,” Sienna said, her smile bright and full of gratitude.
Chapter 126
Chapter 126
The clock struck noon as Suzanne made her way back to the
Morrison Residence. She deliberately arrived late in hopes of avoiding any encounters with Sally.
Yet to her surprise, Sally was still in the house.
Upon entering, Sally approached with a feigned smile. “Welcome” back, Suzanne.”
Suzanne cringed at the sound of her name on Sally’s lips but maintained her composure, considering Nathan’s family was present.
“Mind joining us for a moment, Suzanne?” Florence beckoned.
Suzanne exchanged pleasantries with her in-laws before Wendy ushered her to the couch with Sally trailing behind.
The air crackled with tension, evident in the troubled express Florence and Gary, and the hesitant speech of the others. S something amiss, Suzanne had a bad hunch.
When Florence hesitated once more, Suzanne decisively asked, there something you need from me, Florence?”
Forced to respond, Florence wore a strained smile and deferred to Gary. “I’ll let Gary speak for me.”
Shocked, Gary shot Florence a glare and then deflected to Wendy instead. “Wendy will fill you in.”
Wendy appeared utterly bewildered. As Suzanne observed the Morrisons dancing around the issue she sensed trouble brewing. Were they pushing for her to divorce?
Feeling drained by the charade, Suzanne stated softly, “Just tell me. I
can handle it.”
The Morrisons exchanged uneasy glances before Wendy finally spoke up, “Sally has been diagnosed with depression. The doctor says it’s severe, and it’s affecting her emotions significantly.”
Inwardly scoffing, Suzanne doubted the authenticity of Sally’s diagnosis.
Wendy continued, “You know she’s living with her grandparents. However, her grandmother enjoys traveling with her friends while her grandfather is busy managing the family business.
“Her uncle has to work long hours at the hospital, so Sally always ends up alone at home. We worry about her mental health and-”
Suzanne interrupted, catching on to their intentions. “You want Ms. Hoffins to move in.”
The nods around the room confirmed her suspicion, leaving Suzanne feeling unsettled.
It was clear that Sally was using every opportunity to mak miserable until she cracked. It seemed that Sally was detern drive her away from the Morrison Residence.
Sensing Suzanne’s dismay, Florence rushed to explain. “Don’t misunderstand, Suzanne. Nathan’s hardly ever home, so Sally’s presence won’t disrupt your life. She just doesn’t want to feel lonely and decided to seek companionship here.”
Suzanne found herself unable to argue. She had no say in the matter, despite the family’s attempt at consideration. They left her no choice but to accept.
“Do as you wish,” Suzanne murmured resignedly.
When Sally heard that, her face lit up with a bright smile. “See? I knew Suzanne wouldn’t object.”
Suzanne turned to Sally and caught a glimpse of malice in the latter’s
eyes.
Recognizing Sally’s true nature, she couldn’t help but feel a chill running down her spine. She doubted she could find peace in the Morrison Residence in the future.
A surge of anger simmered within Suzanne as she clenched her fists with unwavering determination. She refused to yield to the looming threat, especially when Nathan remained indifferent to her allure.’
Suzanne made a firm decision to stand up and fight back.
Despite lacking expertise in scheming or underhanded tactics, Suzanne was determined to educate herself in the strategies needed to outwit Sally.
Armed with her resolution, she mustered a polite smile and endured the unpleasant meal with Sally. Following dinner, she retreated to her room and freshened up before immersing in her studies.
Turning to online resources, Suzanne delved into psychology bo and forums, seeking strategies to combat Sally’s deceit.
She stocked up on books about safeguarding marriages and thwarting calculated adversaries, purchasing every psychology resource available online.
For the next two weeks, Suzanne immersed herself in her studies, rarely emerging from her room except for meals and the occasional drink.
Fueled by her dedication, she burned the midnight oil and diligently filled the notebooks with her newfound knowledge.
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Chapter 127
As she studied, Suzanne felt like some contents of the books looked familiar and that she must have read them before. Now that she was re-reading them, they left a strong impression on her.
The Morrison family staff were so shocked seeing her studying so intently that they whispered about her among themselves.
“Mrs. Morrison must have been an excellent student. She must have gone through at least hundreds of psychology books in half a month!”
“I saw her studying till late into the night. She probably intends to take the examination to qualify as a psychological counselor.”
“She’s really focused when she studies! She didn’t even realize that went in to clean up the room. She gave herself a huge scare when she bumped into me when she got up to get herself a glass of water
“Yes, she’s really impressive!”
What Suzanne didn’t expect was that in the days that she had b herself with studying the psychology of women like Sally and how deal with them, Sally had kept a low profile and behaved well.
Sally was an obedient and well-behaved young lady in everyone’s eyes. She portrayed herself as a gentle, respectful, and humble
person.
She would give Gary and Florence back rubs and present them with nutritional herbs and tonics. She was also very nice toward Nathan’s brothers and sisters-in-law, gifting them luxurious branded presents.
Sally would even help the household staff at times. Hence, she was very well-liked by everyone in the Morrison family, including the household staff.
She curried favor with everyone at any opportunity she got, and that was something that Suzanne could never achieve.
Iru aves
That evening, Suzanne rubbed her and came out from the study when a maid told her that it was time for dinner. She made her way downstairs.
Sally helped out with setting up the table in the dining room. Then, she helped serve the dishes, behaving as a good daughter-in-law
would.
When Sally served Gary his soup, she told him, “Mr. Morrison, have a taste of this chicken consommé with truffle essence and wild
mushroom. I made this personally.”
Gary gladly took it and exclaimed, “Thank you! I never noticed that not only are you able to whip up nice dishes, but you make some tasty soups too!
“Your culinary skills are amazing! Any man would be lucky to m
you!”
Florence echoed, “That’s right! Sally would make a perfect wife!”
Suzanne lowered her head and ate her soup in silence.
Proud that she was being praised, Sally turned to look at Suzanne
with a faint smile.
“Suzanne, why have you shut yourself away and read in the study? I heard from Mrs. Morrison that you’re reading up on psychology books. Are you planning to take the qualification examination?”
Suzanne put down her spoon and smiled at her. “Yes, since I haven’t got any suitable jobs now, I figured that I might as well make use of the time and learn something useful.
“I can’t very well try to get Rhonda dismissed from her job like you,
24
can I, Ms. Hoffis?”
Everyone was stunned when they heard that. Rhonda Seals, the family chef, blanched at that. She had initially thought that it was really nice of Ms. Hoffis to help her around in the kitchen.
Now, after Suzanne’s reminder, she finally came to realize that in the two weeks that Sally had come to the Morrison Residence, Sally had gradually taken control of the kitchen.
Everyone in the Morrison family had been complimenting Sally on her culinary skills and how nice the food she made was.
Seeing how close she was to losing her job, Rhonda became
flustered.
Florence lightly cleared her throat and tried to get Sally out of the awkward situation. She hurriedly said, “Sally just made us food because she’s bored and has nothing better to do. She isn’t trying to get Rhonda dismissed.”
Suzanne quickly flashed Sally a bright smile. Since Sally
ting
up the act of being gentle and capable, Suzanne would gla
with that.
“Ms. Hoffis, it’s true that you make delectable food. I’d like t some coq au vin, bouillabaisse, and ratatouille tomorrow. That wouldn’t be too much to ask for, would it?”
Those were three dishes known to be extremely cumbersome to
make. Rhonda almost burst out laughing when she heard that. She quickly covered her mouth and stifled a laugh.
Sally’s fists tightened as she tried to suppress her anger. She gritted her teeth, and her face reddened from the effort of not lashing out at
Suzanne. She couldn’t come up with any valid reason to turn down her request.
Just then, Edgar’s voice rang out. “Mr. Nathan, you’re back! Have you had dinner yet?”
Everyone was overjoyed to see Nathan back. They all left the dining table excitedly and rushed over to the door.
Suzanne was the only one who remained seated as she slowly ate her soup with her head lowered.
When she heard that Nathan was back, her heart was finally back at ease. She had missed him a lot. Even in her dreams, she missed him.
However, she didn’t feel the least bit of joy or excitement at present. Instead, there was only endless melancholy.
Chapter 128
Chapter 128
People often claimed that unrequited love was an internal battlefield. Right at this moment, Suzanne couldn’t agree more.
She clearly missed Nathan so dearly with her entire being, but she was conflicted and afraid. She dared not even look at him openly, yet she stole countless glances at him from the corner of her eye.
She clearly knew that he held another woman dear in his heart, and it pained her to know that. She hated and resented the fact, yet she
could not bear to let him go.
She clearly yearned for him to be back, and she was both elated and anxious that he was, yet she feigned calmness and nonchalance. She put so much effort into it so that he wouldn’t notice any trace of her feelings for him, as though that would make her unrequited love less painful.
The moment Nathan stepped into the living room, Sally rushed ov excitedly. “Nate!”
Caught off guard, Nathan was trapped in her embrace. Sally clung tightly to his waist, frustrating him.
Nathan’s brow furrowed as he reached behind his back to pry Sally’s arms off of him. But Sally was persistent and refused to let go. “I missed you a lot, Nate.”
“Nate, why didn’t you tell me you were coming home today?” Florence smiled at him warmly.
Nathan greeted the people in front of him politely. Every one of them beamed brightly at him, expressing their concern.
His gaze darkened slightly when he failed to spot Suzanne amidst the
175
crowd. Then, he took a sweeping glance across the room and finally spotted her not too far away in the dining room.
With one hand resting on the table, she lowered her head and ate her soup quietly. She treated his return as indifferently as a stranger
would.
All she needed to do was to raise her head just a little, and she’d be able to see him. But she wouldn’t even do so.
Disappointment welled up within Nathan, further fueling his irritation. He pushed Sally away from him.
However, Sally kept at it. With everyone watching, she stood on tipped toes and wrapped her arms around Nathan’s neck, attempting to lean against his chest.
Cole appeared from behind Nathan and forcefully pulled her away from him. He said furiously, “Ms. Hoffis, please stay away from General Morrison. He’s injured!”
Everyone was startled to hear that. They were worried and showe him with concern, asking Nathan where and how he was injured a how severe the injury was. The living room buzzed with commotio
The moment Suzanne heard that Nathan was injured, she froze, her spoon hovering over her bowl of soup. Her heart clenched with worry for him. She reflexively raised her head to look at him.
But the first thing she saw was Sally crying and patting Nathan’s body all over, asking him if the injury was serious.
Suzanne felt like she might break down if she saw a second more of Sally’s heart-wrenching and affectionate act, so she quickly shifted her gaze away from Nathan.
But when she peeled her eyes away from him, Nathan instinctively glanced at her. All he saw was her coldness and indifference, leaving
him deeply disappointed.
Could he not elicit a response out of her even after he got hurt?
Amidst the commotion around him, Nathan couldn’t pinpoint who was speaking to him, so he gave them a simple reply. “I’m fine.”
“Do you want to have dinner together?” Florence asked.
Nathan sighed faintly and responded softly, “No, I’d like to rest.”
Sally promptly latched onto Nathan’s arm and said, “I’ll help you back to your room, Nate.”
“There’s no need for that.” Nathan coldly pushed her away and walked past the living room toward the stairs.
When Sally turned, she noticed Suzanne silently stirring her soup and Nathan’s cold attitude toward her. Sensing that things had reached a freezing point between the two, she was elated.
It seemed to her that her feigned depression, her suicidal an her little acts of manipulation had worked like a charm.
and
Cole followed Nathan upstairs and went into the study first. T second they set foot in the room, they were taken aback and f place.
Cole gaped in surprise, unable to utter a word. The study was a me and resembled the room of a student preparing for the college entrance exam. It was cluttered with books and materials of all sorts.
Several opened books were scattered on the computer table, with red marks and notes scrawled across the pages. Someone had been studying very hard there.
Nathan slowly walked over and flipped through the books. Psychology?
He frowned as he took in the room. He saw a lot of books on the
shelf that didn’t belong to him. His gaze was locked on the titles.
“Best Ways to Handle Toxic People”
“The Key to Overcoming Nasty People”
“Foundations of Psychology”
Nathan’s lips curled slightly as a smirk played on his face.
Cole was surprised to see such a reaction from him. “General Morrison, should I tidy things up?”
“No.” Nathan didn’t wish to mess up her things and disrupt her progress. “Let’s go to the room,” he said.
So Nathan led Cole to his room. The instant they entered, they were once again bewildered.
The room was spotless and tidy, but the bed was covered in a mess of books, many of which were still unopened.
Cole finally understood why Suzanne was so talented. It turne that she studied so intensely!
In the end, the two men chose to go to the spacious and comforta balcony, where Nathan briefed Cole about their upcoming tasks. Then, Cole reported to him about their work progress and important things they should take note of.
As they were discussing, the door to the room was hastily pushed open. Suzanne hurried in, completely oblivious to the two people on the balcony.
She behaved like a child who feared her parents scolding her for messing up the room. Flustered and panicky, she scrambled to pick all the books off the bed and organized them neatly on the shelf.
She heaved a sigh with one hand on her hip and the other on her forehead. Then, with her mind still in disarray, she circled the room,
checking to see if everything was in place.
Spotting another book on the easy chair, she quickly picked it up and placed it on the shelf. Then, she rushed over to the bed and tidied the bedding. After a flurry of cleaning up, she hurriedly left the room.
She failed to notice the two people watching her from the balcony the whole time she was in there.
Cole couldn’t help but chuckle. “Mrs. Morrison’s in such a hurry. She’s probably on her way to tidy up the study now. She’s pretty cute.”‘
Cole’s unintentional praise drew a cold, angry stare from Nathan. Cole gulped nervously and straightened up. “I’m sorry, General Morrison. I spoke out of turn.”
– Nathan leaned back into a wicker chair and fell deep in thought. Cole
had just praised Suzanne for being cute. So why did he feel that Cole’s tone had been too adoring, and why was he displeased about
Chapter 129
Chapter 129
Halfway through dinner, Suzanne suddenly remembered the mess she’d left in the study and the bedroom. Hence, she hurriedly went upstairs to clean them up. After she was done, she returned
downstairs to finish her meal.
She wondered where Nathan and Cole had disappeared to after heading upstairs. Could Nathan possibly not wish to share a room with her since Sally was there, so he decided to rest in the guest room?
That was highly likely.
When Suzanne returned to the dining table, everyone had already finished their meals and left. She sat down dejectedly and continued eating. She couldn’t even taste her food due to her heavy mood.
Over in the living room, after Sally set her phone down, she call in an anxious and urgent tone, “Mrs. Morrison, I just called Luca told me that Nate suffered a gunshot to his shoulder last night.
“They had just extracted the bullet not too long ago. But Nate didi want to be hospitalized and insisted on coming home.”
Florence covered her mouth in shock as she teared up. “Last night? A. gunshot?”
She put everything down and rushed up the stairs, sobbing as she cried aloud, “Oh my goodness! My son…”
Sally followed after her and went upstairs too.
Back in the dining room, Suzanne lowered her head. Her hands, gripping the cutleries, were frozen. She trembled all over, and her heart ached for him. Nervousness and unease took over her as a
belated fear tightened its grip.
By the time she looked up again, Florence and Sally had already vanished upstairs. A tightness clenched at her heart. She desperately wanted to see Nathan and check on how severe his injury was.
Suzanne didn’t return to her room straight after dinner. Not wanting to see Nathan and Sally being intimate with each other, she went to take a stroll in the garden.
She stayed outside, admiring the night view late into the night, until she felt a little tired before she returned.
As she pushed open the door to their room, she found the lights were turned on, but there was no one in sight.
Suzanne shuffled her feet into the room, exhausted. Moving over to the bed, she sat down and slumped over to her side, letting out a long
sigh.
Why wasn’t Nathan in the room? It was already so late at
Suzanne was certain he was in Sally’s room. She wonder nature of their relationship. Was it polygamous?
That thought made Suzanne feel awful. She was both aggrie saddened.
All of a sudden, she heard the sound of the glass doors sliding o Suzanne’s eyes widened instantly as she looked at the balcony in
confusion.
he
Nathan came in from the balcony, closing the glass doors behind him and drawing the curtains. He was in a set of comfy pajamas.
From the back, Suzanne could see his broad shoulders and his neatly cropped hair. He looked effortlessly handsome.
She couldn’t explain why she was taken over by nervousness, but her
entire body was taut. So, she gulped dryly and tried to say something, but she didn’t know what to say.
Nathan turned and walked in after drawing the curtains. He then switched on the air conditioner with a remote control and leaned against a shelf, fixing his deep and calm gaze on Suzanne.
When their eyes met, Suzanne was so nervous she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Her gaze slowly traveled from his shoulder up to his striking face.
He had been shot yesterday and just had the bullet extracted. He should be in the hospital bed receiving treatment, so why did he insist on coming back?
Eaten up by worry, all she managed was to blurt out, “Does it hurt?”
She was finally looking at him, finally speaking to him. A faint, bitter smile played on Nathan’s lips.
He’d been through all sorts of dangerous situations all the Bleeding and getting injured were commonplace. Never on let out that he was in pain, nor did he fear death.
But now, he just wanted Suzanne to show more concern for hi Hence, he made his voice sound weak and feeble, and he murm
It hurts. A lot.”
ears.
he
Suzanne nervously gripped the bedsheets tight. She had a mind walk up to him to check on his wound.
But all it took was a split second of hesitation, and she held back the urge. She hadn’t even stood up from the bed.
Nathan’s gaze on her was intense. She didn’t know what she should say, so she quickly looked away.
Chapter 130
Chapter 130
Nathan slowly walked toward her and sat down on the other side of the bed. They had their backs toward each other, and Nathan rested his elbows on his thighs. He supported his head on his hands, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath.
The tension in the room was high, and he couldn’t help but feel exhausted. Suzanne only asked him one question and didn’t say any
more.
A while later, Nathan asked, “Why did Sally move in?”
Suzanne smiled wryly. “She’s moved in for more than half a month
now.”
“And you didn’t stop her?”
“I have no right to do that.”
Nathan fell silent. Moments later, he asked again, “Are
ing
on taking a qualification exam?”
“No.”
“AAre you comfortable staying here?”
“It’s alright.”
“David Sally make things hard for you?”
After assking all he had to ask, the room fell into a deathly silence once more. The tension in the room was palpable.
Nathan hadd tried to strike up a conversation with her by asking her so many questions, but she only gave him curt replies, not intending to
carry on the conversation. Things started to get awkward between
them.
“I’m going to shower.” And with that, Suzanne got off the bed and walked into the walk-in closet to get her pajamas.
Nathan raised his head and looked at the time. It was almost midnight. Ever since he arrived home in the evening, he hadn’t managed to catch a moment of rest. He’d been waiting for her.
He was finally able to meet her now. But she was so estranged and didn’t even want to speak to him.
When Suzanne came out from the shower half an hour later, Nathan was still seated in the same position with his elbows on his thighs. His back sagged, and his shoulders seemed to carry the weight of the
world on them.
She couldn’t see his face, but she felt that he carried a heavy and desolate air with him. There was a trace of melancholy to b00.
Was he bothered by work? Suzanne felt bad for him. She we him and said softly, “Nathan, you just had the bullet removed yesterday. You need to lie down and rest.”
Nathan slowly straightened up and looked at her with a subtle hin emotion in his deep eyes.
Suzanne didn’t understand the emotions in his eyes. All she could tell was that his eyes were captivating and mesmerizing.
“How did you know?” he rasped with some sort of anticipation.
Suzanne’s gaze flickered. “I overheard Sally’s call to Lucas.”
Nathan smiled sardonically. Even Sally was concerned and would call others to find out about his condition.
Why couldn’t Suzanne do the same? Did she only ask about him
because she overheard Sally’s conversation?
Nathan kept quiet with a cold expression.
Suzanne glanced around the room before asking, “Do you have any medicines you need to take? Have you taken them yet?”
“I took them already,” he answered unenthusiastically.
“Do you have any ointments to apply on the wound then? Have you changed the dressing yet?”
Nathan kept mum and stared at her, observing her innocent yet
alluring eyes.
“Why don’t you help me with it?” He pointed at the medications on the shelf. The fact was, he was only supposed to change them the next
morning.
Suzanne hurriedly brought the medications over and placed them on the bed. She opened up the packaging and said, “You need to tell me how to use them.”
Nathan took off his shirt with one hand.
When Suzanne picked up an iodine swab and looked up, sh tanned torso bared before her eyes. His abs and his chest we flawlessly well-defined, making him appear wild and seductive.
Her heart raced, and her face flushed. Even her eyes seemed to h
1.
She didn’t know where to look, and her breathing became erratic. She stood there dumbfounded with the cotton swab in her hands, staring
at his body.
As Nathan looked at Suzanne’s flushed face and her fascinated gaze, a faint smile gradually crept up his face.
The temperature in the room soared