Natalie’s sincerity and warmth gradually thawed the apprehension of the elderly couple. They began to see her in a new light, realizing perhaps they had been wrong about her role in their daughter’s demise. Noticing his wife’s discomfort, the elderly man wished to spare her further distress. After a brief inner struggle, he decided to accept Natalie’s goodwill. With a grateful nod, he expressed,
“Thank you. Your kindness is appreciated.”
Lexi and Sean stepped in at the right moment, assisting the elderly couple, guiding them away to settle down.
As the couple was escorted away by Natalie’s subordinates, the burly men, suddenly bereft of their golden goose, thrashed about violently. Their resistance was such that even the bodyguards struggled to hold them back.
Their trip to Barnes had one purpose-to secure a hefty compensation. But with the bereaved parents refusing any such recompense, their journey seemed futile.
Breaking free, one burly man spat out his gag. He ;pun around to face the elderly couple, bellowing with rage,
“We journeyed here to win justice for Vivi, and you decline the compensation? Why are you here then? What good is justice to us? Demand money, you fools! Money! Don’t you get it?”
His words ignited a fury within Natalie. Could these people be so heartless? Their focus was solely on the money, with no regard for the truth behind Vivi’s death. Moreover, they showed no concern for the parents’ profound heartache and sorrow. Just as Natalie was on the brink of losing her patience, the old woman halted. She turned to face the ruffians, her eyes brimming with tears. Natalie felt a surge of worry, fearing the old woman might be swayed by the thug’s harsh words. To her surprise, the elderly lady turned to Natalie, uttering an apology,
“I’m sorry.”
Natalie was taken aback, only to hear the woman clarify with a sense of defeat,
“These individuals are merely distant relatives. They came hoping to at most wring some money from you. They hold no connection to us.’
The older man also declared heatedly,
“They’ve shown no concern for Vivi! Either send them packing or turn them over to the authorities. It’s all the same to us!”
Caught off guard by this firm response, the bullies looked poised to unleash threats, but Brandon’s stern glance halted them. Aware of both Natalie’s and Brandon’s reputations, they swiftly retreated. Despite their simple village upbringing, they knew when to push and when to back off. Thus, their silence brought the disturbance to a close.
Watching the scene from the sidelines, Suzanne clenched her jaw in bitter resentment. Vivi’s kin were just as useless as she was! She had organized a flock of reporters outside, yet in the face of such a golden opportunity, they’d failed to cast Natalie as the villain! Now, after a mere warning from Brandon, these spineless individuals were too timid to even ask for damages. It appeared they wouldn’t dare to meddle with Natalie again.
All her careful planning was for naught! Worthless! Absolutely worthless! They were all worthless!!
Suzanne was seething internally, but she maintained a remorseful front.
“Ms. White, I apologize. I failed to defuse the situation, leading to today’s events.”
Natalie’s suspicion of Suzanne deepened with every passing incident. Suzanne always seemed like an innocent bystander, but each time trouble arose, it felt as if she were subtly stirring the pot. ,! From Vivi’s tearful pleas for mercy to her family’s demands for compensation, Suzanne’s behind-the -scene role was ambiguous. But one thing was certain-Natalie wasn’t about to let anyone manipulate her anymore. She offered a serene smile and responded,
“No harm done, Ms. Duncan. Your intentions were good.”
Suzanne sighed as if carrying a heavy burden.
“Still, I feel accountable. I don’t want to impose on Ms. White further. Since Vivi was under my employ, perhaps I should tend to her parents?”
Natalie returned her smile, a warm expression on her face.
“Your generosity is appreciated, Ms. Duncan. However, they have endured enough. Let’s not add to their troubles and allow them some peace.”
Natalie was determined to ensure that the care of Vivi’s parents was entrusted to reliable people until the investigation on Vivi’s car accident was resolved. She wouldn’t give certain individuals the chance to sow more discord.
Hearing this, a momentary stiffness marred Suzanne’s smile. She clenched her fists discreetly, straining to uphold the facade of her pleasant demeanor.
“In that case, I’ll leave Ms. White to make all necessary arrangements. I shall not intervene any further.”
She placed a pointed emphasis on the words
“intervene any further”, her voice faltering slightly. Natalie, seemingly oblivious to Suzanne’s veiled hint, offered a warm smile.
“If there’s nothing else, Ms. Duncan, feel free to take your leave. I have some personal matters to address.”
Suzanne, now feeling subtly ousted by Natalie, struggled to keep her composure. She managed a strained smile, murmured a hasty ‘goodbye”, and spun on her heel to exit swiftly. She was convinced that lingering even a moment longer would unleash her mounting fury, leading to at most an unanticipated showdown with Natalie. Natalie watched Suzanne’s retreating figure, her mind deep in thought. The smile on her face gradually dissolved. She had caught a fleeting glimpse of the rage and resentment in Suzanne’s eyes as she turned to leave. What had sparked Suzanne’s ire? Was it the day’s unexpected turn of events, or had Natalie’s proactive handling of Vivi’s parents upset Suzanne’s carefully laid plans? It wasn’t until Suzanne’s silhouette had vanished from the doorway that Natalie allowed her gaze to drift away. Dismissing her bewilderment for the time being, she redirected her attention to more pressing matters. Natalie organized accommodations for Vivi’s parents at a Larson Group-owned hotel, ensuring their daily needs were catered to Moreover, she arranged for a doctor to oversee their health.
Half a day had swiftly passed by the time all these arrangements were in place.
Upon her return to the studio, Natalie reassured her employees before retreating to her office, utterly drained.
“I’m wiped out.”
Natalie sighed, her exhaustion evident as she sank into the couch.
“At least today’s ordeal has finally come to an end.”
Brandon rose and moved to skillfully knead Natalie’s temples, complimenting her,
“My love, you’ve truly come into your own. The way you handled everything today was a testament to a formidable female CEO.”
At Brandon’s commendation, a hint of cheer seeped back into Natalie’s mood, prompting her to quip,
“Well, that’s expected. After all, I am the wife of the Larson Group’s CEO.”
Their banter gradually lightened Natalie’s spirits, and her fatigue started to ebb away. Regaining her composure, Natalie voiced her concerns with a grave tone,
“We must probe into Vivi’s car accident post-haste. If we delay, the evidence might be meticulously obliterated, and the culprits could seize the opportunity to evade justice.”
Matching Natalie’s solemnity, Brandon responded,
“I’ll redouble my efforts to uncover the truth about Vivi’s accident. We won’t rest until justice is served.”
Natalie, growing even more serious, added,
“Furthermore, I fear Vivi’s parents could be manipulated by nefarious individuals. They are elderly and ill-equipped to fend off the underhanded maneuvers of those behind the accident.”
Brandon, recognizing that the sight of the aged couple reminded Natalie of Hannah, understood her urgency to apprehend the guilty party. He nodded, reassuring her,
“Rest easy, I’ll ensure Vivi’s parents are watched over.”
Without delay, he dispatched a message to Sean to assemble a team to delve into the accident’s truth. He also ordered Sean to assign another crew to keep a vigilant eye on Suzanne, leaving no individual she encountered unnoticed. Both Natalie and Brandon had harbored suspicions about Suzanne for some time.
She seemed to be a constant presence whenever commotion struck, almost as if she were orchestrating the chaos. Their suspicions had become too potent to dismiss. Having set all the necessary wheels in motion, Brandon’s concern for Natalie lingered. He stayed by her side until the afternoon, only leaving when he was confident she had regained her composure.
Brandon walked out of Natalie’s studio and was promptly greeted outside by Sean, who opened the car door for him.
Upon settling into the car, Brandon immediately asked in a cold tone,
“Did the people monitoring Suzanne find anything?”
Sean’s expression turned grim as he shook his head and delivered a disappointing report.
“After leaving Mrs. Larson’s office, she went right back to Star Entertainment and hasn’t come out since.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.