Chapter 8
Colton’s face tensed as he locked eyes with Natalie.
But Natalie didn’t look away–not even for a second.
The room stood in frozen silence until Clarissa choked out a sob and tugged gently on Colton’s
sleeve.
“Colton, please don’t argue with my sister because of me…”
“She only wants the dress–it’s my fault. I just thought it was beautiful, so I tried it on. I didn’t
mean anything by it.”
“I didn’t expect her to get so upset. I’ll go change now.”
Bathed in Colton’s sympathetic gaze, Clarissa headed to the dressing room.
When she returned, she held the dress out to Natalie–its hem torn straight through.
Natalie took it–only to find a long tear slashing through the hem, right across the most delicate
part: the embroidery.
She had held it in–until now.
Her eyes turned red. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
Clarissa looked genuinely stunned, shaking her head with wide, innocent eyes.
“I swear I didn’t know. I really didn’t. The dress is already back with you, Natalie. What more do you
want?”
Colton stepped between them, his brow drawn in frustration.
“Natalie, how much longer are you going to make a scene over this?”
“Clarissa gave it back. Can’t you just be satisfied?”
Natalie gently brushed her fingers along the torn fabric.
The embroidery–each lifelike flower sewn under candlelight–was now defaced.
Her grandmother had stayed up for nights by candlelight to sew this dress, stitch by stitch, just for
her.
Natalie hadn’t even made it to her grandmother’s bedside before she passed–she’d been away,
fighting for her spot in the national audition.
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And now even this last piece of memory had been destroyed.
Her hands trembled as she clutched the dress to her chest.
Colton instinctively blocked Clarissa again.
Natalie looked at them–how naturally they stood side by side, how perfectly she fit into his
protective arms. The sight hollowed something out inside her.
She didn’t say a word.
She just turned and walked away.
Back home, Natalie sat hunched on the floor, painstakingly stitching the torn dress back together.
Her grandmother’s gentle voice still echoed in her ears.
She pressed the soft fabric against her cheek, whispering, “Grandma, I miss you so much…”
“These days without you… they’ve been unbearable.
She thought of the seven children she’d lost each one a name she never got to say aloud.
Of her biological parents. Of Colton.
It all came crashing down at once.
Natalie curled over the dress and began to sob uncontrollably.
Suddenly–BANG!
The door burst open with a loud kick.
Colton stormed in, Clarissa right behind him, both wearing thunderous expressions.
“Where’s Joey?!” Colton demanded, practically shaking with rage.
Tears were still streaking Natalie’s face as she looked up, dazed.
“What are you talking about? I don’t know what you mean.”
Colton’s eyes burned with something darker than anger–hatred.
“Still playing dumb? Who else could it be? You’re the only one who hates Clarissa enough to hurt Joey!”
Clarissa dropped to her knees, her eyes swollen and red.
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“Sis… I know I’m the one who ruined your life. I know you hate me.”
“But Joey is innocent! He’s just a child–he doesn’t know anything.”
“It’s not his fault he was born from me. Please, I’m begging you–don’t take it out on him!”
She bowed low, forehead nearly hitting the floor. “Please! I’ll do anything–just give me back my
Joey!”
Natalie’s voice broke as she tried to explain, “I’ve never even been near Joey! The nanny’s the one
who takes care of him, not me!”
Clarissa’s tears fell freely. Her voice shook as she pleaded, “Sister, I’m begging you… he’s my
whole world.”
“If you just give him back, I’ll leave. I’ll pack my things and never bother you again.”
Natalie opened her mouth, but no words came. There were too many lies, too many accusations. She didn’t even know where to begin.
Colton wasn’t having it. He kicked open her suitcase and started rummaging through her things.
“What the hell are you doing?!” Natalie shouted.
He ignored her. In moments, the whole room was in chaos.
Finally, he yanked open a tin box and pulled out a small gold trophy–her very first award, won at
the national dance competition. “Natalie, I’ll ask you one more time: where’s Joey?!”
“If you don’t tell me, I swear–I’ll smash this.”
Natalie lunged forward, trying to grab it, but he shoved her back.
“I didn’t do anything! Give that back to me!”
Without hesitation, Colton hurled the trophy to the floor.
CRASH.
Natalie reached out instinctively, but it was too late.
The trophy shattered into pieces.
She dropped to her knees, gathering the broken shards with trembling hands. Her voice cracked with grief:
“Colton… is this how you protect me?”
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He paused his anger fading just a bit but still snapped, “If not you, then who?”
Just as the words left his mouth, a child’s laugh rang from outside.
Colton froze and turned toward the door.
There, on the staircase, the nanny held Joey in her arms, walking up casually.
Colton’s expression went blank. “Why is he with you?”
The nanny looked puzzled. “This morning, Miss Clarissa asked me to take Joey out for some fresh air. She said it might help him sleep better tonight…”
Clarissa, who had just rushed out behind him, stiffened when she saw the boy.
Then she quickly smiled and scooped him into her arms.
“Oh right, I told Nanny Lewis to take him out earlier. I forgot all about it.”
“I was just so worried when I didn’t see him this evening. I panicked and got it all wrong. Sis, please don’t hold it against me…”
Natalie didn’t even glance at her. She just kept picking up the broken trophy pieces in silence.
Colton and Clarissa exchanged a glance. Colton stepped forward and gently placed a hand on
Natalie’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry. We were wrong. But you can’t blame us for panicking–Joey’s just a kid. If something had happened to him…”
Natalie shook his hand off and stood up, silent.
Colton’s face darkened. “Let’s be real–if you and Clarissa weren’t always at each other’s throats, would we have suspected you?”
“And it’s just a trophy. I’ll have one made for you, exactly the same.”
“You’re pregnant, Natalie. You really shouldn’t get this upset.”
Natalie had gathered the last shard of her shattered past.
.
She stood up, voice flat:
“Are we done here?”
“Then please leave my room.”
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Colton and Clarissa walked out without a word.
And she, without even looking back, closed the door behind them.
Chapter 8
