Chapter 285 The Puppet Master
When Isabella heard Natalie’s words, she stiffened and turned pale.
At this moment, Isabelle pondered a question in her mind.
Was she the devil in Natalie’s world, or was Natalie the devil in Isabella’s world?
She had always been intent on destroying Natalie’s life.
However, Natalie seemed more like a nightmare and a devil in Isabella’s life now!
“Go back and take good care of yourself. Don’t let the child in your belly be scared prematurely. After all, I have no goodwill towards you,” Natalie said coldly.
Her coldness made Isabella keenly feel her hostility. There was even a sense of dread creeping up her spine.
Yes, dread!
Isabella stood up with clenched fists as she trembled. Looking towards Natalie, she finally hissed through gritted teeth, “Natalie, just you wait! Things between you and Cedric are impossible!”
Natalie remained silent. Obviously, she didn’t want to dwell too much on this issue. These matters had ended for her long ago and were meaningless.
Isabella groped her way to the door. However, being in an unfamiliar place, she couldn’t find it. She bumped into the coffee table’s corner several times or collided with the sofa and stumbled on the ground awkwardly.
Natalie coldly watched her every move.
Isabella screamed hysterically and even resorted to hitting herself in anger. Evidently, Isabella didn’t want to display such a disheveled appearance in front of Natalie, but she was powerless to do anything right now.
This sense of helplessness fueled Isabella’s self–loathing.
Natalie showed no inclination to help Isabella in her sorry state. It was like watching herself in her previous life when Isabella had stolen her eyes.
And now, just like Natalie’s former self, Isabella thrashed and struggled in the darkness, helpless and frantic.
At that time, Natalle had screamed in despair in the darkness but got no response from the
heavens or the earth
In the end, she struggled helplessly in the raging fire
After thirty minutes, Isabella was in a sorry state and covered in sweat.
When Wendy entered with some documents, Natalie finally said, “Bring in the woman who came with her.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Wendy gave Isabella a cold glance and then left.
Lily quickly entered.
Seeing Isabella in such a sorry state, Lily glared at Natalie fiercely, “What have you
done to
her?!”
“Lily.”
“Let’s go!” Upon hearing Lily’s voice, Isabella felt like she had caught a lifeline. Though she usually detested Lily, she didn’t want to stay here for even a moment longer!
She just wanted to leave this place quickly.
Lily approached with concern. “Miss.”
She grabbed Isabella’s hand.
At this moment, it seemed like Isabella had found guidance. Her previously frenzied emotions
also stabilized. Lily glared fiercely at Natalie and then led Isabella away.
As they reached the doorway, Natalie finally asked, “Isabella, do you regret it?”
Isabella halted in her tracks.
Regret?
Although Natalie didn’t explicitly mention what she was referring to, Isabella understood.
Natalie was asking about the incident with her eyes.
At that time, Cedric was about to discover that Isabella had been pretending to be blind to frame Natalie.
She had been too naive back then.
Isabella thought that all she had to do was make it the truth, and Natalie wouldn’t be able to. escape Cedric’s clutches!
However, she had overestimated Ivan’s importance to Cedric and underestimated Natalie’s position in Cedric’s heart.
Cedric’s hesitation had given Natalie the time she needed to escape, ultimately leading to the
Now…
How much time had passed?
How long had she been in this darkness?
It had been so long that she had gradually become accustomed to this darkness.
However, when Natalie asked the question, Isabella’s heart still tightened.
She admitted, “I do.”
Yes, she regretted it.
Even though she had grown accustomed to this darkness, when asked whether she regretted using her eyes to deceive Natalie, her answer would always be yes.
Only those truly in the darkness would understand…
Darkness was not as simple as closing one’s eyes.
The most terrifying part was when nothing was visible, even when one opened their eyes.
After Isabella left, Natalie sat in her office with a cold look on her face.
Wendy asked, “Are you just going to let her go like that?”
Clearly, those around Natalie wished she had torn apart those from Verde City who had plotted against her.
Natalie glanced at Wendy. “Do you think I caused her to be in that state just now?”
“Didn’t you?”
Natalie frowned. Wendy instantly realized her mistake. “You’re not such a person, Ms. Walker!
She did it to herself!”
“It is indeed a case of reaping what she sawed,” Natalie said without elaborating, picking up
some documents.
“I’ve gotten the results about that matter,” Wendy said.
“Which matter?”
Natalie didn’t catch on for a moment, considering the numerous events that had transpired recently. There was so much happening that she was unsure how to react.
Wendy waited a while before explaining. “The matter about the company that recently went public, Palm Pearl-
That company?
Undeniably, the people behind it had some skills. Establishing a company within such a short period and then directly going public required substantial resources.
Simeria had only a few prominent families, and even fewer stood at the pinnacle.
But Natalie hadn’t heard anything about it!
If it was someone she typically came into contact with, there was no reason why she wouldn’t have received any information.
So, who was behind this?
“Have you
identified the person behind it?” Natalie inquired.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Who is it?”
“Mr. Johnson!”
“Cedric?!” Natalie frowned, and her heart seemed to skip a beat at that moment.
Wendy nodded. “Yes, ma’am. It’s him!”
When it came to Cedric, Natalie was not the only one who felt unnerved by him. Wendy also felt a bit uneasy when she discovered this matter
It was clear that he had done everything to target Natalie.
Natalie didn’t respond immediately, and Wendy continued, “I have to say, ma’am… It seems. your former husband has capabilities you might not fully understand.”
This level of influence…
It was way beyond what Cedric had displayed when he was only in charge of Johnson Enterprise!
Natalie glanced at Wendy, her expression turning somewhat grim. Wendy thought she might have said something wrong, but Natalie didn’t dwell on this matter.
Nevertheless, Wendy’s words were true.
Natalie really didn’t have a comprehensive understanding of Cedric’s past. She had seen him primarily as someone associated with only Johnson Enterprise and nothing further.
Now, as Wendy pointed out, Cedric was operating on entirely different levels.
Johnson Enterprise might be nothing more than small stone in his hands.
There was one thing Natalie couldn’t quite fathom, though.
+25 BONUS
Back when the Johnson family was in internal conflict, why did Cedric and Rebecca suffer so much to push out the branch families if he was so capable?
Chapter 284 I’m Pregnant
In the afternoon, Natalie once again spent her time in a meeting.
After the meeting, Wendy came to report to her when Natalie exited the conference room.
“Ms. Walker.
“What is it?”
“There’s a Ms. Morgan here to see you!”
Natalie was silent.
Ms. Morgan?!
Karina Had probably already explained the relationships among those in Verde City to Wendy before leaving.
But the way Wendy was behaving…
“You…”
“Do you want to meet her? If not, I’ll make her leave.”
Wendy’s character was quite straightforward, but strangely, such a personality didn’t make people dislike her.
Natalie sighed and said, “Let her in.”
“Do you really want to see her?”
“What? Are you really thinking of chasing her away for me?” Natalie said as she glanced at Wendy.
Wendy grumbled, “Isn’t she acting all high and mighty? Why doesn’t she know her place? How dare she come here to see you?”
Indeed, Isabella didn’t know her place.
“Go ahead”
Yes, ma’am.”
Wendy left. In a few minutes, Isabella arrived.
Lily followed behind her, and Isabella had a white silk scarf covering her eyes. She looked. delicate and pitiful no matter how one looked at her.
Natalie had to admit that Isabella had perfect proportions for her tall figure. It made Natalie envious. If Isabella hadn’t wasted time dealing with Natalie, perhaps she would be standing at
It was a pity that Isabella had wasted her efforts.
“Lily, stay outside.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Lily helped Isabella sit on the sofa and gave Natalie a wary look. She treated Natalie as if she were a ferocious beast that could tear Isabella apart at any moment.
Of course, to Isabella, Natalie really was one.
After Natalie and Isabella were left alone, Natalie said, “So tell me, what do you want from me?
“You’re really lucky!” Isabella glared in Natalie’s direction and gritted her teeth.
Natalie played with her precious pen in her hand. When she heard Isabella say this, she raised her eyebrows and smiled.
“You must really want to see me cl
“Of course.
now, don’t you?”
“But you should be grateful that you’re a blind person who can’t see anything now.”
If she could see… Hah…!
Having experienced so much with Cedric by her side, she naturally knew how it felt to be jealous when someone had a better fortune.
That jealousy not only harmed others but also burned oneself.
“You’re now the deputy CEO of Regal Horizons International. We share the same blood, but our destinies are worlds apart.”
“You’re wrong. We’re different!” Natalie said without hesitation.
When Isabella heard this, her face instantly turned pale. Although Natalie didn’t explicitly say it, she also knew what Natalie meant.
Isabella’s heart pounded wildly in her chest. After taking a deep breath, she said, “You’re already high and mighty now. Why do you still need to hurt me with your words?”
“Fine. Then tell me, what did you come here for today?”
Hurt her with words?
Did Isabella think that Natalie did it on purpose?
never actively hurt anyone, but it was a different story when it came to Isabella:
The grievances between them couldn’t be solved just because Isabella had a pitiful appearance.
“You have everything now. Why do you still want. him?!”
Him… Cedric!
Natalie chuckled. Listening to Isabella’s words was like hearing the world’s biggest joke.
And it was indeed a colossal joke for her.
“Want?” Natalie sarcastically repeated the word.
Before Isabella could respond, she continued, “It’s been two years, right?”
Isabella remained silent.
“You plotted against us and caused us to separate. But I’ve been gone for a full two years, and he hasn’t married you. Why is that?”
Isabella’s already unpleasant expression sank even further when she heard Natalie’s words.
Natalie had indeed changed.
Actually, she changed a long time ago!
Natalie seemed like a completely different person in and outside of marriage!
When Natalie was still married to Cedric, Isabella could still hurt her.
However, now…!
Even in words, no one could take advantage of Natalie!
“If that’s all you’re here for today, Isabella, I’ll make it clear to you. Even if things between Cedric and me were impossible, whether you can marry him is another matter. Once…”
When Natalie got to this point, she suddenly paused. Then, she laughed more mockingly.
“I overestimated you!”
At that time, Natalie was so meticulous! She was restless, constantly thinking about ending her marriage, especially after she was reborn!
She was only obsessed with breaking free from the past.
Cedric would rather stay in prison than enjoy your tender loving care in these two years. It seems you’re not that important to him after all, hmm?”
“Natalie!”
Finally Natalie’s words provoked Isabella enough to get a reaction from her.
Natalie was now the deputy CEO of Regal Horizons International, and her words were sharper
than before.
Each word she spoke left no room for retort.
Although Isabella hated Natalie to the core, there was nothing she could say to refute Natalie’s words at this time.
Natalie was truly ruthless.
“What, is what I said not the truth?”
“Why do you have to humiliate me like this?”
“Humiliate?”
When she heard these two words, Natalie’s smile grew even wider. Even though Isabella couldn’t see anything now, her senses were sharp enough to almost feel the acidity in Natalie’s eyes directed at her.
Isabella was acting just like how Natalie had expected her to!
At this moment, Natalie looked at Isabella with eyes as sharp as a hawk, accompanied by a strong sense of mockery.
“Compared to what you’ve done to me, this little humiliation is nothing!”
That was right!
While Natalie was a generous person, it didn’t mean she didn’t hold grudges.
Everything Isabella did to her in both lifetimes was like a brand that was deeply engraved in her heart.
What was this small humiliation that Isabella was enduring now compared to that?
Once, Natalie even heard how Isabella insulted her mother.
Thinking of what happened in the past, Isabella looked toward Natalie and said urgently, “Tell me, what will happen after you’ve driven me to death?”
“Nothing!” Natalie said without hesitation.
Isabella was speechless.
Nothing?!
It seemed like everything Natalie said was true. Even when Isabella blinded herself to frame Natalie, nothing happened to Natalle in the end.
here were too many people protecting her.
‘You should leave. Things between us don’t have to be this way.
“Leave him!” Isabella said through gritted teeth,
“You shouldn’t be saying those words to me!”
“I’m pregnant!”
Natalie fell silent.
Isabella’s sudden words made Natalie’s expression change for an instant, but it was just a
moment.
The sharpness in her eyes became even colder.
Natalie suddenly recalled a similar scene in her previous life.
Now, Isabella sat in the darkness and announced her pregnancy to Natalie.
In her previous life, Natalie had been the one to sit in the darkness and hear Isabella announce her pregnancy.
“Rest assured, I’ll make sure the child in your belly knows what kind of person their mother is,
Natalie said coldly.
