Chapter 404

Natalie had a hard time hiding her disgust.

The very thought repulsed her.

To her, the short and plump Linden seemed completely repulsive.

"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. Go finish what l asked you to do."

Natalie, unable to bear it any longer, turned to leave,but Linden grabbed her hand. He smirked. "Don't worry.I'll make sure you're satisfied."

He then walked into the hospital.

Natalie could barely stand it. Once home, she repeatedly sprayed disinfectant on her hands,scrubbing them ten times before finally stopping.

Nina stood a few steps behind, watching as every trace of disgust, irritation, and nausea flashed across Natalie's face.

"Natalie, just hold on a bit longer. Once Cedric is gone, things wil get easier."

Still seething, Natalie grabbed the disinfectant again and sprayed it on her hands. "Mom, I can't take this.Don't ever ask me to see Linden again. He's disgusting! Just the thought of him looking at me makes me want to scream. I can't stand that awful smell of his for even a second."

Elyse patted Natalie's back soothingly. "Sweetheart, I know this is hard on you, and it hurts me too. Once it's all over, I promise I'll make it up to you."

After washing her hands, Natalie turned to speak to Elyse, only to see Nina standing just a few steps away.

"What are you doing here?" Natalie asked coldly, her voice void of guilt.

Nina stepped forward, eyeing Elyse first, then Natalie. "So Linden wanted you all along. You lied to me."

Natalie dried her hands with a tissue, her faceblank,as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. "Yes, and so what? You're his woman now."

Nina gave a bitter laugh. She nodded, then turned to Elyse standing nearby. "Mom, so you knew from the start he was after Natalie? Why? I don't understand why you had to use me like this."

Elyse pressed her lips together and looked up, no longer feeling guilty. "Nina, you've never been the sharpest tool in the shed. Some might call it innocence, but others might say it's foolishness. In a wealthy family, you need cleverness and sense. You don't have either. You're not going to marry into wealth. Your sister, however, has been sharp since she was a child. When Daniela is gone, Natalie will take over her property. She can't afford any blemishes on her record. Nina, trust me-everything I've done has been planned out."

Nina stared at Elyse in stunned silence. After a moment, she let out a bitter chuckle. "So, you think l deserve to be sacrificed just because I'm not smart enough? You really believe I deserve someone like Linden? You're my mother. Is this how you decide to treat your daughters, based on their intelligence?"

Nina's heart sank in disappointment.

Elyse remained silent.

Natalie frowned and pulled Elyse behind her."Stop dragging this out. It's already done. Once we have Daniela's money, I'll give you something to compensate you. Why the fuss? It's just a physical thing, nothing more. Why make such a big deal out of it?"

Nina fixed Natalie with a cold, unblinking stare. "Just a physical thing? No big deal? You're my sister. You knew how much I loved Cedric and how much l wanted to give him the best of me. Not only do you want him gone, but now you're acting like it's just some small thing? Natalie, are you even human?"

Natalie furrowed her brows and turned to Elyse.

"Mom, you're hearing this, right? Everything l've done was for our family, with no selfish intentions!"

Elyse immediately took a step forward. "Nina,how can you talk to Natalie like that? She's your sister.What you said breaks her heart. Didn't she promise to make it up to you once she gets Daniela's inheritance? Why are you being so ungrateful and unreasonable?"

Nina let out a bitter laugh. The weight of it all hit her hard. Natalie blamed her, and Elyse remained so obviously on Natalie's side.

Her heart ached as she screamed, "Oh, sure! It's all my fault. You two didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who was held down and taken advantage of by Linden. But you both act like you're the picture of innocence."

With those words, Nina stormed up the stairs.A few moments later, her sobs filled the entire house.

Elyse let out a deep sigh. "Why is Nina being so unreasonable?"