Chapter 16 Mistaken as the Other Woman
+8 Pearls
Nelson and Jonathan rushed to the office after getting a call. What they found was a couple, bruised and battered, sitting in the reception area.
“Mr. West! I demand an explanation for this mess!” Barnaby shouted, fuming with rage as he rubbed his already thinning
hair.
Cox Group was a business partner of the West Group.
And Natalie had punched both the husband and wife in the face. It could’ve been seen as a major scandal or brushed off as a personal dispute.
After all, her status as Jonathan’s wife carried weight in all of Regalia–enough to make most people back down.
Tamara had thought Natalie looked familiar, and now that Jonathan was here, she finally remembered.
“Well, well. Isn’t this Regalia’s most loyal simp? What’s the matter, Natalie? Isn’t one Jacques enough for you? Now you’re eyeing my husband too? Do you just have a thing for married men?”
She watched Jonathan closely for any reaction–but he didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. That thrilled her.
So the rumors were true–Jonathan really was divorcing Natalie.
Without the protection of his family, putting this so–called temptress in her place would be a walk in the park.
Natalie heard every humiliating word. Her gaze drifted to Jonathan as memories flashed back–his voice, his promise.
That man had vowed to step in for her when necessary. But only because she still wore the title as his wife. It was never about her. It was about protecting the family’s image.
And now, he stood there doing nothing, letting her be publicly shamed. Was this his silent way of saying it was over? That soon, she wouldn’t be his wife anymore!
The realization wrapped around her like a net made of thorns. She couldn’t escape it. She couldn’t even breathe.
But she understood him.
He was like the moon–distant, cold, and far beyond her reach. And the first love he held in his heart, wasn’t her. He had never loved her. Their marriage was just his way of taking responsibility for one reckless night.
If it hadn’t been for their daughter’s sudden illness, the divorce would’ve happened long ago.
Her thoughts hadn’t even settled when a slender, fashionably dressed man was suddenly kicked into the room, stumbling across the floor,
Barnaby’s expression flickered with guilt. He quickly grabbed Tamara’s hand, trying to leave.
But Bartemius stepped forward and blocked their path.
Nelson spoke with slow, calm detachment. “You wanted an explanation? Here it is”
Tamara snapped, “This is your explanation? I want you to deal with Natalie! She’s the one wrecking my marriage!”
Nelson felt the weight of a powerful gaze behind him and shivered without thinking.
Business partners could be replaced–but the bigwig behind him? He couldn’t offend him.
-Nelson glanced down at the man on the floor and said, “That’s the person you’re looking for. Oh, didn’t you know? Your
husband’s gay. He married you just to keep up appearances for the family.”
The bombshell dropped like thunder, freezing Tamara in place.
And when the man on the floor began crying and clinging to Barnaby’s leg, she had no choice but to believe it.
1/3.
Chapter 16 Mistaken as the Other Woman
“I’m going to kill you!”
Before she could lay a hand on that man, Barnaby shoved her hard. “Don’t you dare touch him, you crazy bitch!”
“You’re defending him?! Fine! I want a divorce!”
“Good! Let’s get a divorce! I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
+8 Pearls
As the couple screamed and shoved each other, Natalie barely reacted. In fact, she casually sent the entire clip to Gianna as if she were sharing a juicy gossip post.
What she didn’t realize was that this little misunderstanding would soon bring down the entire Cox Group.
“Mr. West, thank you for handling things today,” Natalie said politely, her gaze skipping past Jonathan and landing on Nelson.
She didn’t understand why Jonathan had come. But she was genuinely grateful to Nelson.
If he hadn’t dragged out the secret lover, she probably would’ve had to throw another punch–and honestly, fighting took a lot out of her.
“No need to thank me,” Nelson said with a dry chuckle. He cast a sidelong glance at the man beside him–silent, stone–faced,
unreadable.
In actuality, it wasn’t him that Natalie should be thanking. He hadn’t found the lover, Jonathan had.
He knew exactly what had happened: before Barnaby and Tamara had even left the building, Jonathan’s men had already intercepted them.
Word had it that Barnaby ended up with a crippled leg, and Tamara lost all her teeth–except for the front two.
Jonathan always seemed cold. Distant. Indifferent. This did not apply to Natalie.
All of his friends understood one thing clearly: Jonathan had a taboo. Touch it, and you’ll pay with your life. Natalie was considered a taboo
CEO’s office.
When Nelson returned to the office, he found Natalie was making tea for him.
That was technically a secretary’s job. But clearly, Natalie had never done anything remotely domestic.
The teapot was filled nearly two–thirds with tea leaves, and the brew that came out was so bitter and strong it could’ve knocked someone out,
But Nelson didn’t dare to say a word.
When she reached to pour him another cup, he sprang to his feet and even offered her the executive chair.
“I’ve got it! Let me do it.” Nelson quickly made a new pot of tea and poured her a proper cup. He almost called her “my queen” by accident. “Ms. Solaria, are you hungry? I’ll grab you anything you want!”
His reaction puzzled Natalie.
“I’m here to work,” she said seriously. “If there’s something that needs doing, just tell me.”
Work? Is she serious? Nelson dared not boss her around.
She was worth billions–by all counts, the most expensive secretary in the country. Nelson should’ve been lighting incense and building a shrine, not giving her tasks.
“Actually, there is something.” He opened his work computer, pulled up a streaming site, and queued up a trending drama. “Every platform has a premium subscription. Watch whatever you want.*
trhis
This is my job?”
Chapter 16 Mistaken as the Other Woman
Natalie had never worked a day in her life. She wondered was it so easy to be a CEO’s secretary?
+8 Pearls
Nelson nodded solemnly and made excuses. “Yep. The company’s expanding into film and television. You’re in charge of following the market–tracking the hottest shows.”
He slipped out of the office and instructed the HR director.
“Hire another assistant.”
“For what, Mr. West?”
To take care of our special guest.”
News of Nelson’s special treatment for Natalie spread like wildfire.
In the break room, Natalie became the hottest topic of conversation.
“She’s brand new. Why’s Mr. West treating her like royalty? Do you think he likes her?”
“No way. The only woman who’s been by his side this long is our general manager, Lily Covington. If he’s into anyone, it’d be Lily
All
eyes
turned toward the woman lounging on
the co
sofa.
She had short, dark hair, sharp silver–rimmed glasses, and a cool, elegant beauty that demanded attention.
Eighty percent of the women in West Group were gorgeous, but most didn’t last more than a year. Only Lily had stuck around.
Naturally, everyone assumed she was the one closest to Nelson. Until Natalie walked in.
Lily’s fingertips rubbed the rim of her coffee cup. Her expression shifted. “Well, looks like the new girl needs a little lesson.”
Just before the workday ended, Natalie got a call from Jacques.
He sounded frantic and wanted to meet.
She had been manipulating the stock market, and the trap she’d set for him–a fake investment opportunity–was climbing steadily under her control.
Jacques, of course, panicked. After all, she had designated that trap for him from the start.
As Natalie stepped into the elevator, a hand reached in just before the doors closed.
A woman rushed in
“Ms. Solaria, Mr. West fainted while checking the inventories in the cold storage! Please, come with me!”
West Group dealt in pharmaceuticals, and they had a dedicated cold storage facility for preserving medicine.
Natalie studied the woman’s panicked expression and followed her without a word
“The temperature was freezing. The moment she stepped inside, a wave of cold air slammed into her. The cold sliced through her coat, all the way down to the bone.
The
storage room was huge. Silent. Empty. And Nelson was nowhere to be seen.
