PRESS CONFERENCE STAGE.
The reporters rushed to Mimi as soon as she arrived on stage. Mimi looked at the reporters tiredly, putting on her most pitiful façade and bowed before saying.
''Hello everyone. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I don't feel too well. I came here from the hospital despite being warned by the doctor not to stress myself. Today, I thank you all for coming.''
Her voice faded away as she suddenly fell down and pretended to be unconscious, prompting the bodyguards to rush to her side. One of the bodyguards lifted her up and ran towards the backstage.
…..
Sun Family House.
After closing from work, Natalie went over to see her mother in law as promised. They sat in the hall and started catching up as they eat the snacks that Mrs. Regina had brought from her trip.
''Natalie, tell me. Why did you decide to get a job? Didn't I tell you to not bother and just live your life?''
''That's what I'm doing mom. I decided to get a job because that is the first step to living my life. I didn't want to stay in the house all myself. Dr. Andrea approved of it. I visited her a week ago. I've started taking therapy again.'' Natalie sounded relaxed.
''This time you must attend all the sessions and make sure you follow her instructions. Okay, that is that. But what is this whole chaos on the internet about? I turned off my phone while I was on the trip so I didn't get to find out about the news early.''
''I ran into Mimi's friend at my new work place. She is also my colleague now. She told Mimi about my new job and Mimi decided to mess with me. I didn't want to also stand by and watch her try to destroy me any longer so I asked for help from Xia and the truth was revealed.''
''The Song family just doesn't want to see you doing better than them. Don't worry, I am back. I will put them in their place for you. I will let them know that no one bullies my daughter in law and gets away with it.''
''Aunt, you should rest more since you're not feeling well. As for the Song family, leave them to me. I will handle them myself. I am no longer the weak Natalie I was before. I won't allow them to have any happy days anymore.''
As they were chatting, Mikael arrived. He stopped at the hall and looked at Natalie. ''Look who we have here? The troublemaker!'' He commented sarcastically.
Natalie looked at him and flushed. She turned her gaze away immediately saying half-heartedly. ''Welcome home, second young master!''
Mikael and Mrs. Regina exchanged confused gazes before Mikael asked.
''Second young master? Since when did you call me by that?'' He couldn't help but chuckle.
''The last time we met, you said I shouldn't call you by your first name because we're not close enough. So, I dare not mention second young master's name so casually.'' Natalie continued stubbornly.
Mrs. Regina turned and hit Mikael's shoulder. ''What nonsense. Mikael, don't you know Natalie is older than you?''
''She is merely two years older than me, and she looks so small who would believe she is actually 25 years…''
Mikael didn't finish when Natalie quickly interrupted him.
''Which part of me is small? You just don't want to respect me. Stop judging looking down on me because of my stature.''
Her voice was a little high surprising both Mikael and his mother.
Mikael looked at her with raised brows. He chuckled finding her sudden outburst cute.
Mrs. Regina tried to trifle her chuckle as she said to Natalie, ''forgive him. What did you come here for?'' She turned to ask Mikael. She had already told him he and Natalie were going to stay together.
''I came to pick my delivery. It's in my room, right?''
''Yes, I let the housekeeper keep it in your room.''
''Thanks!'' Mikael looked at Natalie before going to his room.
''Nat, tell me about your new job? How are they treating you?'' Mrs. Regina asked and they started chatting again.
'It's just a normal job."
...
T-VILLA.
Natalie got down from the taxi and ran inside the villa.
She saw Xia pacing about in the hall, ''I'm so sorry, Xia, did you wait for long? My mother in law kept talking nonstop."
Xia pulled Natalie to the sofa and sat down with her. ''Nat, I have breaking news for you!''
''Tell me what happened to Mimi first. I refused to go online until I heard everything from you.''
''Exactly. That's the breaking news I'm about to tell you.''
''Okay!''
''Guess who showed up at the conference hall and stopped the Song family from revealing your relationship with them?''
''Alice?''
Xia shook her head, ''no, that girl is probably drinking somewhere after the ruckus she made at the airport this afternoon.''
Natalie became curious. ''Then, who?''
''Mikael Sun, your brother in law. Watch this, I recorded everything..''
Xia said and played the video she took for Natalie to see.
Natalie furrowed her brows, confused. She didn't know what to make of the video. ''This? Why did he do that for me? It doesn't make sense. He hates me!''
''Even I can't explain this turn of events. You should ask him.''
''No, I won't. He didn't even say anything when he came to the family mansion and saw me. He even refused to acknowledge the fact that I'm older than him. Do you know what he said to me in front of his mother?"
''What did he say?''
''He said I am small; he doesn't see which part of me is older than him.'' Natalie became angry again when she thought of what he said to her.
Xia sighed and grinned interestingly as she looked at Natalie. ''I just can't hate him no matter what he does.''
''What? Xia, what are you smiling about? Don't tell me you've fallen for him?'' Natalie shook her head.
Xia smiled mischievously. ''Natalie, I hate the fact that he hates you and treats you bad but, honestly, who can hate a man with such a body? I mean, you should have seen how he spoke in front of the Song family. He looked so handsome, I almost became wet for him.''
Natalie gave Xia an ugly look as she asked. ''Who are you and what have you done with my best friend? Xia, snap out of it. He is out of bounds. I will never accept you being with him. He is the biggest narcissist I have ever seen all my life.''
''I would say that's his charm. He is handsome and he knows it.'' Xia said dreamily as she smiled.
Natalie gave up and sighed. She stood up and said to Xia. ''Lock the door before you join me in bed. Watching you fangirl gives me headache.''
....
GLORY CITY HOSPITAL.
PRIVATE WARD.
Mrs. Solace and Mr. Daniel sat by the hospital bed chatting with Mimi as she laid on the bed looking pale and sick.
''Look at you? How are you feeling this morning?'' Mrs. Solace asked.
Mimi started sobbing as she spoke, ''Mommy, you have to believe me. I really am innocent. It was Dindin who did all that without telling me. Sister works at the same company that Dindin is. If you don't believe me, why don't I call her over to explain to you. Ever since yesterday, I've been attacked by netizens and reporters because of this issue.''
She had already discussed with Dindin and the latter had agreed to take the fall for her that her reputation will not be damaged.
Daniel Song held Mimi's hands as he said to her. ''Your mother and I have already made some donations in your name, it will help change the public view about you. In the meantime, you have to stay away from trouble and listen to your mother.''
''Tell me, were you really not aware of the situation?'' Mrs. Solace asked solemnly.
''Mom, you have to believe me. I'm the one who is always insisting that sister should come and be with us. How can I possibly do that to her? The issue with her going for the interview, when Dindin told me, I had wanted to ask you to put in a few words for her so that sister will be accepted into Janice, since that's where you buy most of your jewelleries from.''
''That girl even applied for a job and didn't tell us anything. Does she really not see us as her family anymore?'' Solace muttered.
''Your ex-husband pampered that girl too much. She has grown up with no regard for elders. This time around, her husband died just six months ago and she is already out causing trouble. She really can't be controlled.'' Mr. Song said with resentment.
''Actually, I have an idea. I know what we can do to help sister. I heard she works with public relations. Janice Jewellery recently announced that they wanted a spokesperson. If I am able to get this deal, I will be able to help sister get a permanent job there. Eunice Danson is getting married and has retired, so they're looking for a new spokesperson.'' Mimi suggested with ill-intentions.
''Leave her to suffer alone. She is still naïve and doesn't know the ways of the corporate world. If you want to be the spokesperson then, I will give Eunice a call personally. She owes me a favour. This is nothing. Winning this deal will also help you to gain more publicity and you will be able to change the public's view about you. Natalie doesn't need my help so I won't help her either.'' Solace stated.
''Thank you, mom, you're the best.''Mimi hugged her mother and smirked.