Dumping Ex and Spoiled 4

Madeline raised her hand and pointed at the figures swaying on the road ahead. Hannah smirked maliciously, “Isn’t that the b*tch? She’s probably been thrown aside by Hubert like trash. Mom, let’s drag her over and make her apologize to Britney!” With a loud screech, the tires scraped against the ground, causing Natalie’s heart to tighten. She instinctively stepped to the side to avoid them. Madeline opened the car door, the wind rushing in with force. Slap! Before Natalie could even see who it was, a sharp slap landed across her face, leaving five red finger marks. Natalie had not eaten since falling into the water and was burning with fever. The slap sent her sprawling to the ground. “Natalie, you sl*t, how dare you push my daughter-in-law into the water! Don’t you know she’s carrying the Lawson family’s heir?” Struggling to sit up, Natalie’s hands braced against the ground, tears slipping down her face as her cheek burned with pain. “Mom, I am the legitimate daughter-in-law of the Lawson family!” she said weakly. “Ha! You? You’re nothing but a maid for Hubert! He was unconscious during the wedding! And now that Britney is awake, you should step aside and let her take the place of Mrs. Lawson!” Hannah sneered. Tears blurred Natalie’s vision. Indeed, her wedding to Hubert had been simple, just a small ceremony at the family estate with Hubert’s nephew standing in for him. The marriage certificate had been arranged by the Lawson family, and she and Hubert never even registered it. Over the years, whenever anyone asked about Hubert’s marriage, the Lawson family had been vague, never intending to give her any recognition. “We’ve treated you well, Natalie. You’ve lived off the Lawson family for two years, and now you’ve killed Hubert and Britney’s child! You’re nothing but an ungrateful wench!” Under the cover of night, with no regard for her status as a “lady,” Hannah kicked Natalie twice, her strikes full of malice. Unable to withstand the force, Natalie collapsed on the mountain road, her soft skin scraping against the rough surface and cutting open. “Don’t think you can get away with pretending to be dead. You killed Britney’s baby, and you owe her an apology!” Madeline sneered. After delivering her harsh words, Madeline pulled Hannah back into the car and ordered the driver to take Natalie to the hospital. Natalie had always believed that loving someone meant loving everything about them, including their family. So, she had endured the Lawson family’s harsh treatment. She hand-washed Madeline and Hannah’s expensive clothes. She followed them around when they went shopping, carrying all their bags. She ran around buying all sorts of snacks for Madeline, even though the Lawson family hadn’t provided her with a car, forcing her to rely on taxis or buses. Last winter, when she brought back cold ravioli, Madeline had her stand outside in the snow for an entire afternoon. When Hubert came home and saw her standing, he irritably asked, “Did you upset Mom again? Can’t you be smarter?” That was how it had been, time after time. Instead of receiving support from her husband, she only faced harsher treatment from the Lawson family. The smell of disinfectant filled the air, tightening Natalie’s chest. She recognized it immediately. During Britney’s year-long coma, Natalie had gone to the hospital several times each month, researching new treatments. And now, this bizarre mother-daughter duo had brought her to the hospital to apologize. The hospital room door was slightly ajar, with a warm yellow light spilling out. Britney lay softly in front of Hubert, who stood by her bedside, one arm around her back, the other gently brushing through her silky hair. The affection and tenderness in Hubert’s eyes were evident, a softness that Natalie had never seen before. Her heart twisted painfully, as though a knife was repeatedly carving into it, the agony making her break out in cold sweat. Stumbling, Natalie was pushed forward by Hannah, crashing into the door. When Hubert saw her, his deep eyes instantly turned cold. Natalie read the chill and disgust in his gaze. “Why did you bring her here?”