Chapter 18
Clarissa stared at the weeping child in her arms and suddenly let out a twisted smile.
“Oh… so you all knew, huh?”
“You’ve been lying to me this whole time?!”
She shoved General Sinclair and his wife aside and clutched Joey tightly to her chest.
“Joey is mine! No one is taking him from me!”
General’s face turned grim as he barked an order to the security staff.
“Stop her!”
Several guards rushed in, swiftly pulling the child from Clarissa’s arms.
She was forced to the ground, screaming hysterically.
“You have no right to take my son! No right!”
Mrs. Sinclair held the terrified boy close, her voice icy.
“Clarissa, you stopped being part of this family a long time ago.‘
“Get out. If you ever come near Joey again, we’ll call the police.”
They dragged Clarissa to the gates. She turned her head one last time, eyes seething with venom.
“You’ll regret this… I swear, all of you will regret this! You’ll all pay for this!”
Standing outside the theater, Clarissa stared at the promotional poster featuring Natalie’s face.
She wasn’t dead.
Not only had she survived–she had returned to the stage, dazzling and untouchable.
And Clarissa?
Five years in prison. Her son refused to acknowledge her. The Sinclair family had cut her off. Colton
Blackwood despised her.
Why? Why did Natalie get to have it all?
Clarissa clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
She couldn’t accept it.
Chapter 18
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She wouldn’t.
After the performance, Natalie walked out of the theater with Ethan by her side. The night breeze was cool. Ethan draped his coat over her shoulders, his voice gentle.
“Tired?”
Natalie smiled and shook her head. “Not at all.”
They were just chatting when suddenly-
A shadow lunged at them from the side!
“Natalie Sinclair! Go to hell!”
A glint of cold steel flashed–Clarissa was charging forward with a knife, aiming straight for
Natalie!
In a split second, someone threw themselves in front of Natalie-
Shhk!
The blade sank deep into Colton’s chest.
Blood erupted from the wound as he stumbled back, a guttural groan tearing from his throat.
Natalie’s eyes widened in shock. “Colton?!”
Clarissa froze, staring at the blood on her hands, her body trembling.
“Colton… I–I didn’t mean to-”
Ethan lunged forward, seizing Clarissa’s wrist and slamming her to the ground.
“Natalie! Call an ambulance!”
Natalie caught Colton as he collapsed, her hands now drenched in his blood.
“Colton… you…”
He looked up at her, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth–but his eyes held nothing but
peace.
“Natalie… you’re safe… that’s enough for me…”
His voice was fading, but the warmth in his eyes remained.
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“I’m sorry… for everything…”
Natalie’s tears fell onto his face.
“Don’t speak… the ambulance is on its way…‘
Colton struggled to lift his hand, wanting to wipe her tears–but he no longer had the strength.
“Natalie… I… love you…”
His hand fell limp.
He never moved again.
At Commander Colton Blackwood’s funeral, Natalie stood still before his gravestone.
Ethan took her hand gently. “It’s time. Let’s go.”
She nodded, eyes lingering one last time on the photo engraved in stone.
Colton, forever the young, valiant soldier.
She turned and walked away.
This goodbye… was finale.
