Lucian stared wide-eyed at the lady who just called his name.

"How did you..." He began, shocked. "Did you remember?"

Did she remember who he was already?

Natalie eyes glanced at the tattoo on his wrist which was covered again before looking up at her kidnapper.

"Remember?" She repeated. "Remember what? I've never met you before."

How could she remember someone she had never met before? His face was too striking, she definitely couldn't have forgotten such a face.

"Yeah, you haven't."

Why did he sound relieved? Natalie wondered to herself, looking at him.

Maybe if she has given it more thought, she could have figured something out. But her head wasn't in the right place, and seeing her baby in the hands of her kidnapper wasn't helping either.

He didn't look like he was going to hurt her child, but Natalie wasn't ready to make any bets.

Lucian eyes dropped to look at the sleeping child in his arms, and his heart melted.

This was the first time was holding a baby... It weird, but good.

After watching the baby for a while, he returned his gaze to the mother, only to find that she had been staring at him like a hawk, as though waiting for him to make a wrong move so she could pounce on him and take her child back.

His eyes lingered on her protective mother expression before speaking. "This is your bedroom now, I'd advise you to get some rest." He said slowly, his tone considerate. "You just pushed two lives out of you."

Natalie blinked.

Something about his tone told her that he actually cared. Unlike the bastard of a husband she had.

But she didn't care.

"That's none of your business." She spat coldly.

After signing those papers, she had severed all ties with the Vales.

Why was she now entrapped by one? Not just anyone, but the Lucian Vale... The ruthless other son who had been exiled all these years?

Something told her that whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good.

The man wasn't exactly in good terms with his family.

"What does a Vale want with me?" She asked, matching his gaze, "You already know about my divorce. There is nothing tying me down to that family, so just let me go." Her voice sounded tired.

She was tired.

Lucian noticed. He walked towards Natalie slowly, and she shifted back

"Are you sure you want that?" He asked, his tone dropping.

Even while holding a child so carefully in his arms, he still managed to sound intimidating.

Natalie stepped back again, only for her legs to hit the bed.

"You have nowhere to go," Lucian stepped closer, "No money, and no friends. Shouldn't you be at least grateful to me for not only giving you shelter and every other essential thing, but protection from your father as well?"

Shouldn't she?

Natalie's face turned red.

Did she beg him for it?

"You..."

"Save it and get some rest," he interrupted her, his tone dismissive. "You have a long day ahead of you."

A long day?

This definitely wasn't good news.

It sounded like he wanted to use her. What other thing could exiled Vale son want to use her for apart from... Revenge.

Just as the thought came to her head, Lucian handed her the baby. "Here."

All Natalie's thoughts flew away in an instant, and the only thing she could think about was her child. She took him in her arms, and hugged him to her chest before sitting down on the bed.

"Baby..." She sniffled, feeling his warm body against hers. "I'm sorry."

She was sorry that they hadn't spent up to twenty hours alive and they were already kidnapped.

She was sorry that the world she brought them up in was a lot more terrible that she had thought.

She was just... Sorry.

Lucian stepped back, watching the mother hold back her tears.

He gestured to the man who stood not too far from him, and he immediately came closer, and bent his head.

"Bring the other one in," Lucian instructed, his eyes never leaving Natalie for a second. "I doubt she would sleep if she doesn't see her twins."

The man nodded, have Lucian a bow before walking away.

No sooner than he left did Natalie look up at Lucian. "Hey, Mr. Vale." She called him.

She didn't have to, she had all his attention.

Natalie blinked as she realized that he was already looking at her, then she cleared her throat  "You can't keep me locked up here for long." She began. Since trying to instil fear wouldn't work, she might as well tell him that she would escape.

"Since you know about my father, you probably already know who that I don't like being confined." Natalie said, with a small cold smile on her face.

Her words earned a scoff from Lucian. "Yet you stayed in that marriage for four years." He smirked, shaking his head at her. "Four years you buried yourself for that bastard just to obey your father."

The smile slowly disappeared. Natalie clenched her jaw in anger. "You don't know..."

"I know more than you think Natalie, much more." Lucian interrupted her, the smirk still fixed on his face. "Plus, I would love to see the real you. Without her father's control, without her husband's hold, who is Natalie Gerald?"

Natalie clenched her jaw as she stared at him.

"If you don't let me go, you'd definitely find out." She said through gritted teeth, her heart beat sounding in her ears.

Lucian wasn't in any bit frightened. He was enjoying every second of it.

"I anticipate it." He replied, his voice came out as a low whisper, before walking away.

As soon as he left, the other few people who were present in the room as well began to leave as well, and in no time, Irene was left alone with the baby in her arms. 

Outside, Alan walked up to Lucian as soon as he saw him come out. He had heard the conversation between them. It didn't feel like the lady was blushing when she told him about not liking being in confined spaces.

He had thought she was an ordinary girl until after doing a background check on her, now he couldn't help but worry.

"Boss," he bowed respectfully to Lucian before speaking. "Should I get more guards to watch Ms Natalie?"

Lucian halted in his steps, then turned around to look at Natalie's closed door. "She just came out from a cage, she needs space to run." He mumbled to himself before returning his attention to his assistant.

"No need." He replied. "Even if she does escape, she can't get too far."