Chapter 8

Jeffrey stood there, his figure outlined in the dim light. The shadows made it hard to see his features clearly, but the cold air around him was unmistakable. Immediately, the room went quiet. Chandler jumped up first. "Hey, what brings you here today?" The others scrambled to follow suit, standing awkwardly. Jeffrey was the kind of person you had to make an appointment for, and even then, it was a gamble. Now he was just standing there, a silent force in the doorway. Johnson broke the silence. "I'm signing a collaboration with her. Is there a problem, Mr. Foster?" "There is," Jeffrey replied. "Mr. Foster, you sure control everything," Johnson said. Jeffrey lifted his chin slightly, his tone icy and with a sense of pressure. "Go ahead and try." "Sure." Johnson then reached for the pen, ready to sign. But Natalie quickly placed her hand on the signature line. "Don't," she said softly, shaking her head. Jeffrey being involved made all the difference. She didn't want to drag Johnson into this mess. Johnson's company was on the rise, and if Jeffrey decided to go up against Johnson, things would get rough for the latter. Johnson gave her a reassuring look. "It's fine." At that moment, Jeffrey's voice sliced through the air again. "Natalie, get over here!" "Jeffrey, what's going on here?" Chandler interjected, trying to play the mediator. "Shut it," Jeffrey snapped. Chandler, not daring to defy him, rubbed his nose and fell silent. Jeffrey, as the head of the Foster family, controlled everything. Chandler dared not challenge him. Natalie took a deep breath and walked over to Jeffrey quickly. "What do you think you're doing…" Before she could finish, Jeffrey grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him, making her yelp in surprise. There was no gentleness about it. She slammed into his chest, the sudden impact making her dizzy. Before she could regain her balance, he was dragging her out the door, his grip relentless. Her wrist burned from the pressure, and she felt like it might snap at any second. Jeffrey's long legs carried him swiftly, forcing her to practically jog just to keep up, and she stumbled several times. He kicked open the door to the platinum VIP room and shoved her inside. She caught herself against the wall, trying to steady her shaking legs. Then, the accusations came. "You don't want to be my wife anymore, and instead, you're here playing hostess?" "Do you always have to be so harsh? Do you think my business is any of your concern?" Natalie shot back, glaring at him. She had spent years obeying him, but now she was done. Jeffrey's face darkened. "Natalie, have some dignity." "Well, I don't feel like I've lost any. We're divorced, Jeffrey. What right do you have to lecture me?" She let out a bitter laugh. "You're just my ex-husband now." His eyes flashed dangerously. He stared at her for what felt like an eternity, and then took a step closer, backing her into the corner. "Are you playing games and trying to get my attention on purpose?" Natalie blinked in confusion. "What?" "From the divorce to moving out, and now here, playing hostess. Is this your way of getting me to pay you attention?" If this was her way of getting him to notice her, it had worked quite well. At least now, she had begun to matter, even if just a little, in his heart. Since she left, everything in Jeffrey's life had felt off. Nothing was right—not his food nor his clothes. His entire life hadn't returned to normal. Natalie lifted her chin, meeting his gaze. "I've heard of delusions, but never this. Are you sick, Jeffrey? When I gave you everything, you ignored me. Now that I've walked away and am done with you, suddenly, you think I'm doing this to get your attention?" "Isn't that what you're doing?" "No!" Natalie shook her head firmly. "I'm not going to keep wasting my time on love that I'll never get. I'm done chasing after someone who'll never be mine." Jeffrey sneered, the coldness radiating off him. "Then, why haven't you brought me the divorce papers?" "I'll bring them tomorrow." "Are you sure?" Natalie nodded. "I'll drop them off at your office in the morning. Have your lawyer look them over. Once everything's good, you can sign right away." Jeffrey's gaze darkened, as if he were trying to read her. After a long silence, he suddenly grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. She winced, the sharp pressure making her face scrunch in pain. "Until the divorce is finalized, you're still my wife. During this month, have some dignity and keep your distance from Johnson. No deals will happen without my approval." Jeffrey was always cold and controlling like this, especially with her. He wanted her to obey him completely. Even after the divorce, he still expected obedience from her. He stepped closer, his breath warm against her skin. "Natalie, begging them won't do you any good. You just need to beg me." With everything she had, Natalie shoved him away. He scoffed, pulling his hand back, then casually leaned back and slowly stepped away. She called after him. "Even if I have to beg on the street, I'll never beg you!" "You need to know your place. Do you even realize what situation you're in?" "I do! There's no need for you to remind me!" He scoffed, turning on his heel. "See you tomorrow." As he walked away, Natalie felt the urge to attack him. How could someone be so despicable? What had she ever loved about him? She knew the road ahead would be tough. Stephen's reputation was ruined, and the Bennett family's resources were in Tyler's hands. Natalie had nothing. But she knew that nothing was impossible if she worked hard enough—except for love, and except for Jeffrey. … Natalie had been at Foster Group countless times. The front desk staff knew her well. But in the past, she always came to bring Jeffrey his homemade lunch, or some fruits and dessert. Each time, he wouldn't even touch them. She had poured all her love into cooking for him, hoping that one day, he'd be moved by her actions. But now, she was empty-handed and only carried the divorce papers. Natalie walked toward the elevator, heading up to the CEO's office on the top floor. As the numbers on the elevator panel ticked upward, she realized this was probably the last time she'd be here. Soon, the elevator doors opened, and she walked out. When Ryan saw her, his expression changed slightly as he quickly walked over. "Mrs. Foster." "Just call me by my name now. I'm not Mrs. Foster anymore. Is Jeffrey in his office?" "Mr. Foster? Yes, he's in there," Ryan replied, though his voice was tinged with hesitation. "Is something wrong? Is this not a good time?" Natalie asked, noticing that. She thought he might be in a meeting, and she'd have to wait, but Ryan stammered, "Ms. Wright is in there." A smile tugged at Natalie's lips. "Oh, really? I haven't seen Abigail in a while. I guess I'll just say hi." She walked briskly toward the CEO's office. Ryan, clearly not daring to stop her, had no choice but to watch her go. As soon as Natalie reached the door, Abigail's laughter echoed from within.