Chapter 22

Phoebe's heart skipped a beat as she instinctively glanced at James and Celeste for their reactions. Noticing the subtle reproach in their eyes, she immediately raised her hand and slapped her face hard, the sound echoing in the air. "Nattie, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault! I thought it would only take a while to buy some clothes. I never imagined you'd run into thugs. I'm so sorry, Nattie…" Then, with a loud thud, she knelt before Natalie, sobbing and repenting. Natalie didn't expect Phoebe to be so dramatic, slapping herself and kneeling like that. Did she take inspiration from a melodramatic TV show? After a moment of shock, Natalie joined in, kneeling beside Phoebe and shaking her head as if she were blind. "Phoebe, please stop! It was just my bad luck running into thugs, and it has nothing to do with you. Don't punish yourself anymore! I don't blame you... I won't blame you again. It's all my fault..." Tears streamed down her cheeks freely as she raised her hand to slap he