Chapter 601

chapter601

When Natalie arrived at Jeremy’s office, she surveyed the grand and imposing space with a look of pure sarcasm. As she stood in the center of the room, she couldn't help but imagine the scenes of Jeremy’s secret encounters with Annabelle that had likely taken place within these very walls.

Half an hour later, Jeremy finished his meeting. Upon learning that Natalie was waiting for him, he hurried back.

Natalie turned around as Jeremy walked in and closed the door. Her expression was ice-cold. “Jeremy, you never fail to shock me. No matter how ruthless your business tactics or how questionable your personal affairs are, you have no right to involve innocent people. Our issues were always between us, yet you chose to betray our marriage and drag others into the mess.”

Seeing her anger, Jeremy’s face tightened, his muscles tensing under his suit. “Did you come here just for Austin?”

Natalie’s eyes flashed with disdain. “If it weren't for that, I would never set foot in this building again.” She pointed toward the leather couch. “Do you know why I waited for thirty minutes without sitting down? Because I can only imagine how you and Annabelle occupied this office behind my back.”

Jeremy’s face turned pale, the veins on his forehead bulging. “Nath, everything in the past is over.”

“No, the traces remain,” she countered. “The affair between you and Annabelle is etched into my mind. Don’t you understand? No matter who you target or how you try to force me back, it won't change the fact that I find you repulsive. Just being in this office makes me feel suffocated.”

Natalie’s face was flushed with rage, her red lips trembling. “Jeremy, we can never go back. Leave my friends alone. If anything happens to them because of your petty jealousy, I’ll never forgive you.”

Jeremy’s face was ashen, his hands clenched into fists. “As long as you resign from that position, it doesn't matter whether you come home or not.” He could only bring himself to concede this much.

“You are so despicable,” Natalie yelled, her eyes welling with tears. “Do you know what you’re taking from me? You are stripping away the only passion I have left. I realize now that you never truly understood me. You only love yourself! Did you think I would come crawling back to you just because I lost my job? That I have no way to survive without depending on you?”

In that moment, Natalie felt a profound wave of regret. She regretted ever falling in love with him, and she regretted the day she said "I do."

Jeremy’s brow furrowed deeply. “It’s not as you think. Do you realize that Austin has feelings for you? I won't allow anyone to keep you close just to pursue their own intentions.”

Natalie let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Don't make this a joke, Jeremy. Mr. Powell looks after me as a professional and a fan. He doesn't have a hidden agenda. Do you think everyone is as obsessed with those things as you are? He is solely focused on his career.”

“Natalie, you don’t understand men at all.” Jeremy’s forehead twitched with frustration. In his eyes, she was too naive to realize how well men could hide their true nature. “Listen to me. Stay away from Austin. No matter what you want to do next, I will support you financially—just not there.”

Natalie felt as though the air had been sucked out of the room. “Jeremy, I hate you.”

The rest of her words vanished. She knew it was useless to argue further. Natalie turned and left the office with decisive steps.

“Nath…” Jeremy reached out, trying to catch her arm.

Natalie sidestepped him quickly, running out the door as if he were a monstrous threat. Jeremy stood there, feeling the weight of her intense resistance and the devastating blow his infidelity had dealt to her trust.

After a long silence, Jeremy’s expression returned to a cold mask. He picked up the phone and called Tristan. “There’s no need to continue blacklisting Austin Powell.”

He believed that, given enough time, Natalie would eventually understand his "protection."

“Understood, sir.”

When Skylar received Natalie’s call, there was nothing but silence on the other end of the line.

“Nath? Where are you?” Skylar asked, her voice filled with concern.