''No will do? There is no way I will stay in that house with that woman. What if she rapes me? A beautiful and perfect man like can't stay with a woman alone in a big house. Don't blame me later on if your wife falls for me.''
''When you go to stay with Nat while I'm gone, I would be the one to be afraid because you might fall in love with her. She is so lovable.''
Natalie looked at Thomas and giggled.
''Tsk!!!'' Mikael humped.
''Go home and visit mother. She misses you.''
''She doesn't miss me. She has a perfect and lovely son like you. Oh, right!!! I heard you bought the rights to the drama I was casted in as the main lead? Did you do it for me?''
''No. I did it for my wife. I am planning out her future.'' Thomas stated and Natalie's face changed. She was shocked by the revelation.
''What?''
''But, is good you will be part of the drama. That way I can use you.''
''Forget of it. I will be waiting for you at the car park. Make sure you see me before you leave.''
''Okay!'' Thomas hung up and looked at Natalie. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked.
''Don't tell me, your brother hates me. I know that much.''
''He isn't that heartless. Once he gets to know you, he will be so open and caring about you. It will shock you.''
.....
District Z AIRPORT.
''Are you not meeting with your brother?'' Natalie asked as soon as Thomas walked up to her at the waiting room.
''Yes. He left first because he was jetlagged.''
''Not because he didn't want to see me?'' Natalie smiled.
''My little puppy. I am going to miss you.'' Thomas said and pulled her into a hug.
''If you act this way, I might be tempted to think that you really have feelings for me.''
''This is a sincere confession to my best friend!''
''Two months is so long. How am I going to live without you?''
''Call Xia and hang out with her if you are feeling lonely, don't stay at home alone.'' Thomas said with concern.
''Okay!'' Natalie nodded her head.
''And one more thing, don't you dare fall for any man while I'm gone. Remember, when that happens, you will have to pay for breach of contract.''
''I am not one to fall for any man that easily. Also, no one has money and connections in this city more than you. Breaching the contract is asking for death. I'd rather go into hiding than fall for another man if he even exists.''
''Remember your own words.'' Thomas said and leaned closer to her face and she stiffened. ''Relax, I am not going to kiss you.''
''I didn't say that.'' Natalie pushed him away and they both laughed.
''I'm leaving. Go home and be a good girl. Call me if anything happens. And I mean anything, don't go hiding and crying all by yourself.''
''Yeah, yeah. Hurry already, your father must be waiting for you.''
''I'm really going. Bye, Natalie!''
''Bye. Thomas Sun'' Natalie waved at him until she could no longer see him. She turned to Secretary He who was at a distance and spoke to him.
''You don't have to wait on me. I want to take a walk around the park. I will let you know when I get home.''
''Yes, Miss Jun'' Secretary He turned and left.
Natalie yawned and looked around. She turned to the eastern part of the airport and started walking towards the airport department stores.
At a distance, a man wearing a pair of matching chevron shirt and pants with a cap followed Natalie as she walked care freely.
Natalie stopped in front of an ice cream shop and licked her lips as she looked at the kids lining up for the ice cream.
''Young lady, do you want some of the ice cream?'' The man behind the counter asked and Natalie blushed.
''Me?'' She asked and pointed at herself.
''Yes, a cup goes for $ 2 dollars!''
''Then, give me a cup!'' Natalie said and started searching her jeans overall jacket dress but to her horror nothing was inside. She looked at the man and chuckled. ''Wait!'' she searched her pockets again and cussed.
''Young lady, what are you doing here if you don't have money? This is the airport!'' the man said and glared at her.
''I definitely had my purse with me. I'm sorry!'' Natalie said and turned to go, bumping into a man. Her face hit against the man's chest and she stepped back, rubbing her nose.
''Watch where you are going, lady.'' Mikael said and dropped a $100-dollar bill into Natalie's pocket before walking away.
''I was the one hurt, why is he getting mad at me?'' Natalie muttered as she rubbed her nose and looked at the man's retracting figure. She furrowed her brows and stuffed her hand into her pocket to pick her handkerchief. ''wWhere is my handker…'' Natalie frowned when she saw the dollar bill in hand. She scratched her head confusedly.
''When did I have this in my pocket?''
She chuckled excitedly and turned to face the ice cream man.
A distance away, Mikael watched with curiosity as Natalie happily took the ice cream from the man. She looked happy just holding the ice cream and taking her first bit. His lips curved up and he shook his head, as if coming back to his senses.
''How could he marry such a clumsy woman who can't even keep her purse closer to her? So unworthy of my big brother.'' He muttered and walked away.
Natalie walked to the roadside and stood, waiting to catch a taxi. She looked at the rest of the balance in her hands and furrowed her brows.
''I could have sworn this money wasn't in my pocket earlier on? How did it get into my pocket though? Did I really not see it earlier on because I was in a haste? Or… that man didn't drop it and it fell right into my pocket, right? Come back to your senses, Natalie Jun. That is highly impossible'' She shook her head and raised her hand, stopping a taxi that was getting close by.
…..
C-CHAINS VILLA.
Natalie walked out of the bedroom and hurried to take the phone that was ringing. The moment she saw the caller ID, her hand quivered and she gasped finding her breath shortening the more she looked at it. She started coughing and immediately ran to the hall and opened the fridge.
There was a crate of boiled eggs inside the fridge and she picked one and hurriedly peeled it before eating it.
Soon, she calmed down and drunk a glass of water before going back to pick the phone that was still ringing for the umpteenth time.
''Hello, what do you want?''
''Why did it take you so long to answer the call?'' A familiar voice asked furiously over the phone.
''What do you want? You said we should never contact each other again.''
''That's right, and I intend to keep it that way, but you made my daughter cry. What useless things did you tell Mimi to make her so sad?'' Solace Song asked impatiently over the phone.
''Your daughter? The last time I checked, she was your stepdaughter!''
''I said she is my daughter and she is. Tell me, what did you say to her that made her cry so much? Must you always be difficult to her?'' Solace asked loudly.
''Nothing, I didn't say anything to her. When will you realise she is just a sick liar?'' Natalie shouted into the phone.
''Shut up. How dare you call my daughter a liar? And you, I really underestimated you. You got married to C-CHAINS GROUP's eldest son? Do you think you have what it takes to make that marriage work? You are just like your father. Whatever you touch turns to dust. Do you really thing you befit that title of the young madam of that family? Pity is what they feel for you? Wait till they are done using you, then you will know just how ruthless these kind of people are. That woman was your father's lover, do you think she loves you? She is only using you to get to me.''
''If you have nothing else to say, I'm busy!'' Natalia ended the call and fell on the floor helplessly as she reminisced on the past.
.....
15 years ago.
Country V.
Jun Residence.
Ten-year-old Natalie held unto Solace Song's dress as the latter packed her things into her luggage bag.
''Mom, please stop. Don't go, daddy promised to pay the money and return to us. Don't leave me alone!''
''You have your father. I can't live in poverty when I can have a better life.'' Solace pulled the luggage out and Natalie saw a man seated at the backseat of the car. The driver got down and helped her put the luggage away before opening the door for her to go in.
Watching the car, Natalie broke down in tears and fell down to the ground sobbing uncontrollably.