From

Chapter 116

In their line of sight, Josh walked away in large strides.

Finally, his figure disappeared.

Only then did Chester and Hayden snap back.

Hayden exclaimed, “Uncle Josh is so cool!”

Chester nodded in agreement. “It was a good beating!”

After a pause, Hayden pointed to Brian who was still on the ground. “What about him?”

Chester didn’t even furrow his brow. “What else can we do? Have someone carry him away!”

The next morning when Natalie woke up, the sky outside was already bright, and the sunlight was a bit dazzling.

She reached out to shield her eyes, then sat up.

Her mind was a bit fuzzy; she glanced at the time and noticed it was nearly 10:30.

Getting up, she went to freshen up.

While brushing her teeth, she suddenly paused, catching sight of a trace of blood on the sink.

She wondered, ‘Blood?

‘How did that get there?‘

Puzzled, she rinsed it away and changed clothes before going downstairs.

Meanwhile, Josh was sitting on the sofa downstairs while reading the newspaper.

Online news and public opinion were often hard to distinguish. Therefore, people with a good reputation generally relied more on newspapers.

Josh lounged lazily, legs crossed while he wore a pair of frameless glasses on his face.

This further accentuated his refined and dignified appearance, yet with a hint of arrogance and sophistication.

When Natalie saw him, she hesitated.

Josh heard her footsteps and lifted his chin slightly, smiling gently, “I see you’re awake, Nat.”

He instructed, “Spencer, bring out the food.”

“Yes,” Spencer replied.

In the days when Josh was away, she had felt more relaxed.

But now, his presence in the living room was overwhelmingly strong, permeating the atmosphere.

Natalie slowly descended the spiral staircase, gripping the handrail, and asked softly, “You… When did you come back? Just now? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Josh paused.

Then, he raised an eyebrow, his smile teasing, “You don’t remember, Nat?”

Natalie blinked. “W–What?”

Josh put down the newspaper, smiled, and waved to her.

Half wary and half suspicious, Natalie walked over.

But as soon as she reached him, he grabbed her hand and pulled her onto his lap.

Josh’s cold and deep aura enveloped her.

Even though he had done this several times before, Natalie’s heart still raced.

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Chapter 116

Just as she was about to struggle to get up, Josh held her down, his magnetic voice sounding in her car, “You were drunk yesterday. I was the one who carried you back…”

Natalie was taken aback.

“Well?” Josh raised an eyebrow. “You really don’t remember?”

In that instant, a scene flashed through her mind-

In a noisy and dimly lit bar, she was drunkenly holding a glass, when a large hand suddenly took away her bottle and forcefully carried her away…

‘Do you remember now?”

Josh lightly twisted the soft flesh around her waist, a deeper smile playing on his lips. “Can you remember more? Like… last night, when you were sitting on my lap, and then…

Natalie was stunned.

Another scene flashed through her mind-

The streetlights outside were flashing, and in the dimly lit car, she was pulled close to a man’s chest, weakly pounding his chest with her hands.

“Why… why are you like this?

“Let… let me go! I’m married…

“Every time… every time… when I say it hurts, he still continues… He… he makes it so I can’t get out of bed the next day…

“He is so annoying…”

Whoosh!

Natalie felt a rush of heat surging up!

A few seconds later, her entire face felt like it was erupting like a volcano, hot and red.

She looked at Josh with a blank gaze.

Josh was still smiling, a hint of mockery and mischief in his smile.

Natalie’s body stiffened inch by inch, then she suddenly rolled off him, staggered back a few steps, and retreated to the sofa behind her.

Then she quickly turned her back to him!

Her cheeks were burning, and she felt utterly embarrassed and at a loss.

For a moment, she wanted to bury herself and never come out to see anyone again!

Unfortunately, at that moment, Josh raised an eyebrow and teased, “What’s wrong, Nat?”

“I… I…” Natalie’s voice trembled, she swallowed hard, her palms sweating with anxiety. “I… Those words… I said them after drinking…”

She didn’t dare to turn around to look at him now.

Josh watched her back, touched his chin, and with great interest, enjoyed her embarrassment. “Is that so?”

“Yes!”

Natalie bit her lip tightly, slowly turned around, bowed her head, and said softly, “Can you… pretend you didn’t hear anything?”

Her voice grew quieter and quieter.

Her cheeks were turning as red as an apple.

Josh let out a short chuckle, stood up, and slowly walked over to her. “You want me to pretend I didn’t hear you, Nat?”

“Yes!”

Natalie was embarrassed to the point of wanting to disappear.

Josh lifted her chin with one hand. “Then maybe…”

In Natalie’s eyes, he looked thoughtful, then he smiled and kissed her cheek. “It can’t be done.”

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10:18 AM

Chapter 116

Natalic felt hopeless and closed her eyes tightly.

She thought, ‘He… How could he be like this again?

‘He is so bad.

‘He’s really bad!‘

At that moment, Spencer brought the food to the table. “Mrs. Franco, it’s time to cat.”

Seeing Natalie’s forlorn face, Josh stopped teasing her. “Okay, Nat, let’s eat.”

With that, Josh took her hand and led her to the table, setting the table for her and placing a napkin on her lap.

Under the pressure of his gaze, she silently finished her breakfast.

He seemed to enjoy feeding her.

Whenever she glanced at a dish, he would pick it up and offer it to her.

It seemed that he took care of every detail about her, treating her like a child.

His lips always carried a gentle and warm smile.

Feeding her seemed to be a pleasure for him.

After breakfast, Josh rubbed the back of her head. “Nat, you’re amazing.”

“What do you want to do this morning?” he asked.

“Read,” Natalie replied softly.

“Okay.” Josh smiled gently. “I’ll read with you.”

And indeed, he did read with her. He carried her upstairs and sat with her on a lounge chair, reading some bizarre novels together.

Josh clearly didn’t like reading this kind of book.

But he still read with her, not only that, but also held her gently from behind and turned the pages for her.

Natalie remembered the bloodstains in the bathroom and wanted to ask, but in the end, she forgot to ask.

The morning passed quickly.

Josh had to go to work in the afternoon.

“Nat, rest well at home and wait for me like a good girl,” he advised her like a typical husband.

When Natalie heard he was leaving, her eyes lit up.

Josh used the tip of his tongue to touch her face slightly, then lowered his head and kissed her lips. “Are you happy, Nat?”

“No… no.” Natalie lowered her head.

Josh raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

Natalie clasped her fingertips tightly, a smile spreading across her face. “You should go, don’t delay your work because of me. I’ll wait for you at home.”

Josh glanced at her face.

Perhaps her last words pleased him, as he smirked, uttered a soft “Hmm,” and turned to walk out the door.

He even closed the door behind him.

Once he left, Natalie let out a long sigh, slowly flopped onto the bed, and covered her head with a pillow.

She thought, ‘Oh my God.

‘How could I say those things?

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10:18 AM

Chapter 116

It’s so embarrassing!

‘Should I move to Mars?‘

Bang!

The door suddenly burst open again.

Josh, who had just pushed the door open, saw this scene.

He paused, then slightly curled his lips.

Everything fell silent for a few seconds.

Natalie seemed to realize something, slowly peeked out from under the covers, and then saw Josh’s smirk.

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