"I know." Natalie nodded, her tone completely flat. "Is there anything else?"

Adrian frowned. "You… aren't angry?"

Something was off. Everything felt wrong.

If this were before, she would have caused a huge scene.

Why had she suddenly become so cold?

"I'm not angry. She's right. I am a corpse in bed, and I don't know how to please you. But it's obvious she makes you very happy. As long as you're happy, that's fine."

After organizing the documents, she prepared to take them out to her assistant.

Adrian suddenly grew irritated. "And you say you're not angry? If you're not angry, why are you talking like this? All sarcastic and cutting. It makes me really uncomfortable!"

"Then what do you want me to say?" Natalie reached out and pushed him aside. "I'm really not angry. I actually think this is fine. I'm busy. If you have nothing else to do, Mr. Brown, you can go find some more exciting games to play with Ms. Bennett."

Adrian had no intention of leaving. Instead, he softened his tone. "I know you're upset about what happened last night, and Yana provoked you again today. Of course you're unhappy. How about this? It's already lunchtime. I'll have lunch with you today, alright?"

Natalie refused him again. "I said no."

"What exactly do you want?"

Adrian had completely lost his patience and was about to snap when Yana walked over, looking pitiful. "I'm sorry, Ms. Harrington. I came to apologize. That video was sent to you by accident. I was just fooling around with Mr. Brown. I didn't mean to send it out."

Natalie was already exhausted from hearing this kind of performative innocence.

If this were before, she would have exposed her without mercy. Now, she barely reacted. "I accept your apology. I really need to get back to work. Please, do as you like."

Watching her walk away, Adrian's brows knitted tightly.

"Something is really wrong with Natalie." Adrian said.

"What's wrong? Isn't this how you wanted her to be?" Yana stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and said sweetly, "I'm hungry. I want you to take me out to eat."

Adrian pulled her hands away, his face cold. "Don't get this close to me at the office anymore. And without my permission, you're not allowed to enter the CEO's office again."

"Fine, I got it. You're really strange. Ms. Harrington gets angry and you're unhappy. She doesn't get angry and you're still unhappy. I really don't understand what men are thinking!" Yana replied.

Adrian didn't know either, but he strongly disliked Natalie's current attitude.

People said that when a woman stopped caring, it meant she no longer loved him.

Had she really stopped loving him?

It seemed he would have to seriously win her back.

That night, Adrian came home early, carrying a pile of gifts.

When he returned, Natalie was watching TV.

"Natalie, look at what I bought for you. They're all your favorite things…"

When Adrian brought the gifts over to her, she didn't even lift her head.

"Mm. Just put them there."

Her attitude set him off again. "Natalie, how long are you going to keep this up? Do you know how much I hate it when you act like this? If you have something to say, say it. Stop pretending you don't care!"

"Fine. Then I'll say it." Natalie looked up at him. "I don't need you to comfort me. I just want you to fire Yana and cut all ties with her. Can you do that?"

"Why do you have to be so extreme? Yana is still young, and she already said she wouldn't compete with you for the title of Mrs. Brown. Isn't that enough?" Adrian looked completely confused. "If that's still not enough, I'll fire her and keep her somewhere else. You won't have to see her again."

After hearing him, Natalie almost laughed out loud. "Adrian, who do you think you are? One woman at home, another outside? I'll make this clear today. Between Yana and me, you get to choose one. If you choose her, we divorce. I can move out immediately—"

"Fine!" Knowing she was serious, Adrian finally backed down. "I won't have any contact with Yana anymore. Are you satisfied now?"

Natalie froze. She hadn't expected him to actually agree to cut ties with Yana.

Just as she didn't know how to respond, Adrian's phone rang.

It was Yana calling.

"Yana, what's wrong?"

"Mr. Brown, I slipped in the bathroom. It hurts so much, and I think I'm bleeding. Can you come help me?"

"Don't be scared. I'm coming right now!"

After hanging up, Adrian turned to leave. Natalie reached out and stopped him. "Adrian, did you forget what you just promised me? Didn't you say you wouldn't have any more contact with her? If you walk out that door, we're finished. Completely."

"Just this once! Yana fell and she's bleeding. I'm worried something might happen. This is a life we're talking about! Natalie, can you stop being so unreasonable?"

With that, Adrian left without looking back.

Watching his retreating figure, Natalie was finally, utterly disappointed.

She began packing. Almost everything that could be thrown away, she discarded.

What needed to be burned, she set on fire without hesitation.

When Adrian came back, she was burning their photographs.

"Natalie, what are you burning? It smells awful."

He hadn't come back alone. Yana was with him.

Seeing Yana, Natalie's brows knitted sharply. "Why did you bring her back? What, not done playing yet? Still want to continue?"

"Natalie, Yana she—she's pregnant. She was alone at home, and I was worried, so I brought her here to stay with us. You'll understand, right?"

It was like a dull thunderclap exploding beside her ears. Natalie looked up at Yana in disbelief.

Yana was pregnant?

"So what do you want to do?" Natalie asked.

"Natalie, haven't you always been afraid of pain and never wanted children? How about we let Yana have the baby? After it's born, if you want to raise it, it can be yours. If you don't, we'll give it to Yana." Adrian said.

Yana sobbed as well. "Yes, Ms. Harrington, don't worry. I don't want anything else. I just want to give birth to this child. When the time comes, the baby can call you mom. I won't mind at all."

Looking at the two faces in front of her, Natalie felt sick to her stomach.

She had never seen people this shameless. How could anyone say something so outrageous?

But it didn't matter anymore. She was leaving anyway.

Whatever Adrian wanted to do was no longer her concern.

"Fine. But I have a better idea."

Natalie's gaze fell on the fire basin on the floor, where the last photo of her and Adrian was being slowly consumed by the flames.

If Adrian had looked even once, he would have known that Natalie had completely given up on him.

But his eyes were fixed only on Yana, and nothing else.

"Adrian, let's get a divorce."

"What did you say? Natalie, are you angry?" Adrian immediately let go of Yana's hand and rushed to Natalie's side, coaxing her patiently. "Don't be angry. I know you don't like this. I'll send her to the mansion in the suburbs right away."

"I know this is my fault. I shouldn't have ruined your family, Mr. Brown. I shouldn't have told you at all. I should've secretly had an abortion. I'll go do it right now!" Yana turned away in tears and ran off, claiming she was going to get an abortion.

She hadn't gone far before she fell to the floor.

Seeing her fall, Adrian panicked. He shoved Natalie aside and hurried to help Yana up. "I never said you had to abort this child! This is my child! I want you to keep it!"

"I don't want to put you in a difficult position. Ms. Harrington would never accept my child. And even if the baby is born, it would still be illegitimate. It might as well be ended now…" Yana threw herself into his arms and cried even harder.

Adrian held her tightly, full of pity. "Don't worry. I'll make her agree. If she really refuses—"

"I agree." Natalie cut him off. "How about this, Adrian. We divorce first. After the child is born and properly registered, we remarry. How does that sound?"

"Really? Natalie, you're actually willing?"

"Yes. I am." Natalie took out the divorce agreement she had prepared long ago and handed it to him. "Sign it."

"You already printed the divorce papers? That fast?"

Adrian frowned, suddenly sensing that something wasn't right.

"What? Are you regretting it now?" Natalie sneered. "Then I'll take it back. This is your only chance. Miss it, and it's gone. Adrian, think carefully."

"I'll sign. But Natalie, you really will remarry me, right? You're not lying to me, right?"

"Don't worry. I'm not lying." Natalie replied.

Adrian finally signed the divorce agreement.

At that moment, Natalie felt no sadness at all. Only relief.

"Natalie, you're so understanding. I'll go check on Yana first. I'll come back to the room early tonight to keep you company."

Watching the barely contained joy on Adrian's face, a faint, mocking smile curved at Natalie's lips.

Adrian had made his choice. She would let him have it.

That night, Adrian didn't return to the bedroom.

Halfway through her sleep, Natalie was jolted awake by thunder. Outside, thunder roared and lightning flashed again and again.

She had always been terrified of thunder. In the past, Adrian would appear by her side the moment the thunder struck.

But tonight, the space beside her was empty.

He wasn't there. He was with Yana.