Chapter 8 Making Enemies and Demanding Strength

"Nattie." Grace clutched Natalie's hand, her eyes red with emotion. She leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper that was meant for Natalie alone. "None of the Langleys can be trusted. Their grudge runs deep. Nattie, open attacks are easy to avoid; it's the hidden ones you need to fear. Please, trust me on this." Grace's voice broke slightly. "If you can't do it for yourself, please do it for me. I'm begging you, Nattie. "With no one to look out for you, how could I ever feel at ease? Even in the nursing home, I'd be restless. I'd lose my appetite, struggle to sleep, and before long, I'd likely fade away, consumed by despair." Grace's voice trembled as she begged Natalie, her eyes red and glistening with unshed tears. She looked so fragile, as though a single word might cause her to break down. Natalie hadn't said a word, but Grace was aware of everything. Natalie had already fought with the Langley family once, all three members uniting against her. Without someone to shield her, their revenge was inevitable. Grace couldn't bear the thought of her sweet granddaughter enduring even a moment of hardship. Though her mind often teetered on the edge of clarity, her rare lucid moments were devoted to securing Natalie's future. "Nattie, you wouldn't want me to waste away in despair, would you? To spend my final days filled with nothing but regret?" Grace broke into sobs, her voice trembling with anguish. As Grace spoke, her emotions overwhelmed her, and she burst into tears. Natalie had no choice but to wrap her arms around her, soothing her with gentle reassurance. No matter how much Natalie tried, Grace couldn't stop crying. Natalie felt powerless as Grace's sobs grew louder. In the end, she gave in and agreed to stay at Charles' place. As soon as Natalie agreed, Grace's tears stopped almost instantly. She pulled out her phone, slid on her reading glasses, and leaned in close before dialing a number. The sound of a phone ringing echoed from the doorway. In the next instant, Ethan answered the call and stepped into Grace's room. Ethan offered a polite smile. "Mrs. Langley Senior, I'm Ethan Carter. Mr. Holden Senior recently called, asking me to pick your granddaughter up." "Ms. Walker," Ethan said, his tone carrying a hint of professionalism. Was he Grandpa Charles' man?" Natalie narrowed her eyes slightly. A call was made just two minutes earlier, and he was already standing at Grace's door. Such speed could put even superheroes to shame. Ethan remained calm as he explained, "Yes, I came with Mr. Holden today to visit Mrs. Langley Senior. However, Mr. Holden had to leave early due to an urgent matter, so I stayed behind. It just so happened that Mr. Holden Senior's call came through at that moment." "It's… quite a remarkable coincidence," Ethan added. As Ethan explained, his gaze subtly shifted to Natalie. From a distance, he had only caught a vague impression of her, but now, standing this close, he realized she was far more beautiful than he had imagined. Natalie's delicate face was framed by alabaster skin. Her striking almond-shaped eyes carried a distant, icy charm, their beauty undeniable yet unapproachable. Her nose was petite and elegantly high-bridged, while her lips remained lightly pressed together, betraying no hint of emotion. Natalie wore a simple windbreaker and track pants. Her slim figure and neatly tied bun framed her young, beautiful face. Yet her detached expression, as if nothing truly mattered, made her seem far older than she actually was. No, there was someone who could melt her cold exterior. Whenever Natalie looked at Grace, her gaze would soften subconsciously, and her tone would take on a gentle warmth. Ethan cast another glance at Diana, who was kneeling on the floor in apology. If he remembered correctly, Victor and Diana had only risen as Amberton's wealthiest couple in the past two years. For her to force the wife of the city's wealthiest man to kneel and apologize, Natalie was clearly no ordinary woman. She was a force to be reckoned with. Ethan withdrew his gaze and set the gift he'd brought on the table. "Mrs. Langley Senior, shall I take Ms. Walker now, or would you prefer I wait a little longer?" "Wait, just wait a moment," Grace said. Grace held her phone, opening her chat history with Charles. She leaned in to scrutinize the photo, confirming that it was indeed Ethan. The call she'd made had been answered by the young man standing before her, and everything he said matched perfectly. Grace let out a breath of relief. Although she was disappointed that Marcus hadn't come, she consoled herself with the thought that once Natalie moved into Holden Residence, there would be plenty of chances for her to meet and get to know Marcus. "Natalie, I've already apologized to Grace. Can I get up now?" Diana said, her tone strained, each word forced through clenched teeth. The presence of an outsider only deepened the resentment simmering within her, intensifying the sharp edge in her gaze toward Natalie and Grace. Natalie turned to Grace. "Grandma, are you willing to forgive Mrs. Langley? Grace glanced at Diana, then Victor. After a moment's thought, she gave a slight nod. "I forgive them." "But Nattie, I don't want to see them. Please ask them to leave," Grace said, her tone soft but resolute. "Okay," Natalie replied. She soothed Grace with a soft smile and a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Then, she turned to Victor and his family, her voice steady but firm. "Mr. Langley, Mrs. Langley, please take Ms. Langley and leave." "Natalie, don't forget the agreement we made," Victor reminded her. Earlier, Natalie had used recordings and videos to threaten them into apologizing to Grace. Victor had agreed but insisted she delete the evidence once they had apologized. "Fine." Natalie pulled out her phone, her movements deliberate. With everyone watching, she deleted the recordings and videos without a word. Given the hatred Selena and Diana harbored toward her, it was clear they wouldn't let her off so easily in the future. As for the recordings and videos, backups had already been secured in an encrypted email. Even if the files were deleted, Natalie had already made backups, ensuring she wouldn't be caught off guard. Had the Langley family been respectful toward Grace and refrained from causing her trouble, Natalie wouldn't have considered making them her enemy. Those files would have stayed buried forever, never seeing the light of day. Natalie was well aware of the Langley family's tactics, which was why she had to stay vigilant. Victor and Diana hovered over her shoulder as she deleted the files, but that wasn't enough. Victor grabbed her phone and combed through it thoroughly, making sure nothing was left behind. "Grace, by backing Natalie, you're basically saying you don't see Selena as your granddaughter," Diana said, her voice cutting. Diana still wasn't pleased, but with Ethan present, she didn't dare let her words run wild. "Leave. Selena? Never heard of her," Grace said, her voice cold. Grace never indulged Diana. After Grace's mind started failing, Diana had been downright cruel to her. Grace's mental abilities were akin to those of a six-year-old, but she was neither foolish nor dull. Her memory, while imperfect, remained mostly intact. Diana seemed ready to say more, but Victor grabbed her by the arm and, along with Selena, ushered her out of the hospital room without another word. "Mom is shielding Natalie, and there's no way we can come to an agreement like this." Once they were out of the room, Victor lowered his voice and added, "But Natalie can't stay by Mom's side forever. Mom's going to die sooner or later, and she won't be able to protect her for the rest of her life. "Mom has more than just shares in her possession, but ever since the accident, her damaged intellect has kept her from remembering what they are." "We'll head back and focus on finding those valuables she hid away. We'll give them to Selena first," Victor said. Diana and Selena's eyes lit up at the words. Without sparing another glance at Natalie or Grace, they promptly left the nursing home with a newfound sense of purpose. … After Victor and his family left, only Natalie, Grace, and Ethan remained in the room. Grace picked up her phone and made a video call to Charles. The call connected quickly, and his kind, affectionate face appeared on the screen, accompanied by his gentle tone. "Grace, has Ethan picked Nattie up yet? Let me see her," Charles said, his voice carrying an eager tenderness. Grace immediately held the phone up to Natalie. "Nattie, say hello to Grandpa Charles," she said with a gentle smile. Natalie didn't hesitate. Her tone was sweet and obedient as she said, "Hello, Grandpa Charles." "Aww, Nattie is such a sweetheart," Charles said, gazing at her image on the screen. She was so pretty, her voice soft and sweet, radiating charm and innocence. In that instant, the old man's heart melted completely. Natalie was such an adorable and beautiful little girl, yet she had to face the misfortune of being switched at birth. The Langley family was Amberton's wealthiest. It was obvious they wouldn't have trouble housing her. Yet they still chose to cast her out, unable to tolerate even a young girl. Natalie was the very person they had raised as their daughter for 20 years. The cruelty was unbearable, a level of ruthlessness that left no room for empathy. For Grace's sake, Natalie had crossed the Langleys, making enemies of the family. Grace was right. Without a powerful supporter, Natalie would be devoured by those three and left with nothing.