Chapter 9

Penny swiftly intervened. "I'm so sorry, sir. I'll send you to the hospital on behalf of my friend." The bartender's face turned ashen, but he kept silent. Perhaps he was wary of Taylor's status. Just then, Aaron strolled over. His gaze casually skimmed Penny's face before saying, "Ms. Wright, you may leave now. I'll handle the situation from here." Penny was shocked to hear that Aaron knew her identity. … Meanwhile, Taylor slammed Natalie against his Maybach. He pinned one of his hands above her head against the car while the other lifted her chin. Taylor looked at her with eyes full of disdain as he bellowed, "Are you going around seducing men? Do you have a death wish?" Natalie didn't understand why he was so angry. The bartender had just helped her out of kindness. "Can you please calm down?" Natalie pleaded while trying to break free from Taylor's grip. The air hung thick with the scent of alcohol on him. He exuded a strange mix of intimacy and aloofness. Instead of letting go, Taylor tightened his hold and mocked, "I'm perfectly calm. If you're feeling frisky, you can just call me." Natalie felt a surge of anger as Taylor had assaulted her dignity. She refused to be belittled by him any longer. "What gives you the right to treat me like this, Taylor?" she demanded, her voice rising. It was the first time in two years that Natalie had looked at him with defiance. Taylor's expression shifted, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. "Did I say something wrong?" he retorted, his tone defensive. "No, you didn't. Yes, I was seducing men. So what if I'm desperate? You've slept with countless women. You're more repulsive than the trash on the street. Even if you were to touch me now, I'd find it revolting!" "Natalie Lopez!" Taylor yelled with deep-seated anger and restraint. His gaze was intense and unwavering as he stared at her. "I liked you." Natalie looked him in the eye, her fluttering lashes adding to the allure of her beautiful gaze, though her eyes flickered with a hint of sorrow. Taylor's gaze softened slightly, and his heart began to stir. "Two years ago, I was head over heels for you. But every time you belittled me over the past two years, my affection for you waned. Now, I feel nothing. To me, you're nothing more than a thorn in my side that needs to be removed. "So, Mr. Jones, you mustn't be possessive when I'm involved with other men. It's wrong for you to do that. After all, we'll be divorcing in a year. You've been trying to get rid of me for two years. Now that the end is near, you need to stay focused." With that, Natalie broke free from Taylor's grip and walked away. Taylor stood frozen in place as he was still coming to terms with the revelation that Natalie once liked him. Yet, he was now nothing more than a "thorn" she couldn't wait to remove. As Taylor watched Natalie walk away, his expression darkened. Two years ago, Natalie used underhanded means to seduce him and never considered his feelings. Now, all she talked about was their impending divorce in a year. Taylor, a powerful figure in the business world, had never let anyone else dictate his life. Why should his marriage be any different? He wouldn't let her get what she wanted so easily. ... Natalie waited in her car for ten minutes before the substitute driver arrived. By the time she got home, it was already nine at night. The day's events had been exhausting. Reflecting on her day, Natalie realized the frequent encounters with Taylor had drained her. She had met him in the morning to settle the argument with his mistress, then at Jones Manor. Finally, she ran into him at the bar. Dealing with Taylor was more tiring than handling her caseload at the law firm. Finally, Natalie finished her shower and lay on her bed. She turned off the lights and closed her eyes. Just as she started to relax, a sudden thud echoed throughout the house, startling her awake. Was there an intruder?