From

Chapter 24

Natalie Hepped out of the restroom, ready to touch up her makeup, when the door swung open, and a tall figure barged in. It was Brian. He locked the door behind him and pinned Natalie against it, his eyes wild with emotion

Brian, let go of me!” Natalie protested, struggling to free herself from his grasp.

Brian, who was at the shooting range with a client, was blindsided. He had heard rumors about Natalie and Josh but seeing them together was torture. Rational thought abandoned him

“Natalie, why! Tell mel Brian’s voice was tinged with sadness. “Why him? How can you be so close to that man?”

“He’s my husband Natalie stated plainly.

“I don’t want to hear that!” Brian cut her off, his eyes burning with resentment. T’ve known you for seven years, and we’ve been together for four years; you wouldn’t even let me hold your hand. But with him? You’ve just met him! How can you let him in so easily!”

Natalie wrestled internally, questioning her own feelings “Why didn’t I resist Josh?” she thought.

That’s my life, Brian. It’s none of your business, she retorted.

“You’re with him, aren’t you? Did you sleep with him?” he accused, his tone filled with jealousy.

Natalie struggled with all her strength. “You are insane!

Brian hesitated, his fingers brushing her cheek gently, a stark contrast to his earlier aggression. “It doesn’t matter. I can look past it once you leave him.

As Natalie lunged to slap him, Brian caught her wrist, his gaze ky. Leaning in as if to kiss her, he was met with her disgusted turn of the face. His lips halted in mid–air.

Her rejection cut deep, and Brian shook with a mix of rage and heartache. After a pause laced with tension, he traced her lips with his fingertip, his touch lingering on the color of her lipstick,

“One day you’ll see that he’s wrong for you. I’m the one you should be with, Just you wait, Brian said, conviction lacing his tone. With those words, he spun around and left, the silence palpable in his wake.

Natalie slumped against the wall, breathing deeply. For seven years, Brian had been like family, a brother she relied on. She had trustingly envisioned a future with him. But she realized now, that future had been a one–sided dream, one that Brian never intended to fulfill,

At the break area of the shooting range, Hayden was nursing a leg that someone had kicked hard, and his mouth was bleeding too

He gingerly touched his swollen lip, looking real sorry for himself

Josh was standing there with him, looking kinda antsy–Natalie hadn’t shown up yet,

Suddenly, Josh’s eyes locked onto someone in the distance. ‘Is that Brian? he thought, sporting the guy strolling over from the restrooms.

Brian just smirked when he caught Josh glaring at him. Josh’s frown deepened,

A few moments later, Natalie returned. She looked a bit shook, her eyes were red, and her lipstick was all smudged.

Josh narrowed his eyes, feeling a mix of worry and annoyance, but he kept his voice soft. “You run into trouble?”

“No” Natalie’s voice was raspy, like she’d been crying.

Hayden glanced at the two and said, “Ms. Linney, I… I didn’t know. I’m sorry”

“Sorry for what?” Natalie was confused. After a pause, she asked, “You okay, Hayden? What happened to your face just now?”

Hayden forced a smile. “Just roughhousing with Josh here. Tried out some boxing moves I just learned.”

Natalie wasn’t buying it. ‘Really! Did they love to go that hard? Looks like he took quite a beating: she thought.

1/2

0

Chapter 94

Josh casually picked a strawberry and handed it to Natalie.

Natalie looked at Josh and opened her mouth obediently to let the strawberry slip in

www.

She looked at him and obediently took a bite, and then Josh turned serious. He gently wiped the smeared lipstick from her lips, his touch super delicate, like he was wiping away whatever stuck in her head too.

Hayden watched them, rubbing his cheek. Seeing their little lovey–dovey act and remembering his own recent mess–up, he felt like he needed to stir the pot. Assuming Josh wouldn’t dare make a scene in front of Natalie, he threw a jab. “Uncle Josh, I gotta hand it to you.”

“Why?”

Hayden exclaimed. “You are 30 years old, but you married an 18–year–old girl! How’d you pull that off? Got any tips!”

The air went cold, Josh shot Hayden a look that could freeze lava.

“Mr. Stewart, you misunderstood, I’m actually 22, Natalie corrected with a faint smile.

“No way!” Hayden pretended to be shocked.

After eating some fruit, Natalie suddenly felt sick at her stomach.

Josh asked gently, “You good”

She had lost some color, “I think it’s late. We should head out

“Sure thing,” he said, helping her to her feet.

“Why are you leaving so soon!” Hayden asked, sounding bummed.

Josh said, “My wife is tired. She needs a rest. He couldn’t help but add, “Hard to understand when you’re single, huh?”

Hayden was left speechless–Josh was quick with a comeback

Hand in hand, Josh and Natalie walked out, but Brian stopped them dead in their tracks at the center of the range.

Brian was cycing Josh with a mix of cold fury and envy, while Josh had an icy glare

“Hey,” Brian started, casually mentioning how Josh nailed three bull’s–eyes in a row. Made me wanna challenge a strong guy like you to a competition.“)

Brian’s challenge got everyone talking

“That’s Brian Sherman from the Sherman family in Gobis!” someone whispered.

“Oh my God! What’s wrong with him! He’s picking fights for no reason, another onlooker added.

“Who are the people he’s talking to? If they offend Brian, they will have a hard time!”

Natalie shot Josh a look, clearly worried,

But Josh gave her a reassuring smile and led her past Brian without a second glance, his voice dripping with the same scorn he’d had when he walked out of the cafe days before. “Like I said, you’re not worth my time.”

2/2