Chapter 412
Natalie’s facade crumbled the moment the call connected. “Jeremy lied to me! He lied to me!” she cried, her voice cracking. She knew all too well the sting of deception. This wasn’t the first time Jeremy had betrayed her trust.
Skylar had just returned to Galaxy Villa when the sound of Natalie’s distraught words drifted through the receiver, sending a jolt of worry through her. An Image of Annabelle Inexplicably flashed in her mind.
“Nath, where are you? I’ll go to you.” Skylar grabbed her shoes, ready to dash out the door.
Just then, Joe returned. He raised an eyebrow, surprised to see Skylar about to leave in such a hurry.
“My friend needs me urgently,” Skylar explained after confirming Natalie was home. “I won’t be back tonight.”
Without waiting for a response, she hurried out.
Joe stared at the empty doorway, a cold mutter escaping his lips. “A friend?”
What kind of friend, he wondered, could whisk Skylar away so abruptly after a phone call? She hadn’t even acknowledged him.
A hint of coldness flickered in Joe’s eyes as he clenched his jaw.
Natalie had stopped crying by the time Skylar arrived at Hughes Residence. However, she’d managed to unearth a few bottles of alcohol, one of which was already half–empty. The strong scent of liquor hung
heavy in the air.
As soon as she saw Skylar, tears welled up in Natalie’s eyes again. “He deceived me, Skylar! Jeremy
deceived me!”
“He could have just told me he didn’t want to come home anymore, that he didn’t want to be with me,” Natalie sobbed. “I would have let him go. But lying to me? How could he do that? I trusted him completely!
Skylar took the bottle from Natalie. “What exactly did he lie to you about?”
Through her tears, Natalie recounted the events that had transpired earlier.
“Are you sure it was him?” Skylar asked.
Natalie nodded forcefully. “I’m absolutely sure. I know him and his driver, Lucas. When he said he was on a business trip, he sounded normal. But I’m sure he’s been lying about all these trips lately. Maybe…. Maybe he’s fallen for another woman.”
The thought sent a fresh wave of pain crashing over her, making it hard for her to breathe.
Skylar’s expression turned serious. “All we know is that he lied this time. We shouldn’t jump to other
conclusions about him.
2/2
“Nath, I know little about your relationship. And I don’t know your husband as well as you do or what changes he might be going through. You need to calm down and think carefully about what to do next.”
Earlier, Natalie had felt utterly lost. But as the alcohol wore off, a sense of clarity began to return. She
sank onto the couch, burying her face in her knees.
“You’re right. We’ve known each other for so long. I understand him better than anyone. I remember the way he used to look at me, the admiration in his eyes.
“That’s why his recent behavior, coldness, and distance make me question myself and wonder if I’m imagining things. I need to know the truth, why he lied to me.”
Seeing a flicker of determination return to Natalie’s eyes, Skylar offered her unwavering support. “No matter what you discover, even if it’s just a misunderstanding, I’ll be here for you.”
Natalie stopped crying. A strong intuition gnawed at her, whispering that Jeremy’s deception was more
than a simple misunderstanding.