Chapter 835 Burned Bridges All of them had been wrong before this.
No, perhaps they weren't ent irely wrong.
Every time something happened involving the Entes family, perspectives | | differed depending on one's stance.
117ane was the one who trapped me in Simeria," Bianca continued before Natalie could speak.
Natalie stayed silent, realizing Zane had cut off all of Bianca's retreat routes. He even wanted her to leave Simeria! He couldn't possibly be unaware of the challenges that Bianca would encounter after leaving.
"Nat, I won't ask your brother to get involved. I just need a sanctuary," Bianca stated firmly after sensing Natalie's tension.
This revelation made Natalie realize
Bianca's precarious situation in Simeria "Okay, I'll talk to my brother," Natalie responded.
Bianca was now completely at odds with | the Holly family, leaving her exposed and { unprotected in Simeria. Natalie couldn't bear to see her friend in such a precarious situation. If it meant keeping her out of trouble, Clyde could easily offer Bianca a safe haven.
"Thank you, Nat," Bianca expressed her gratitude.
"Don't thank me. I just want you to be safe," Natalie replied, eager to see Bianca free from danger and going to live her life peacefully in a place where no one knew her.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"After I meet my mother, everything will be over," Bianca asserted.
Ultimately, Bianca needed to see her mother,
| Natalie wondered if it would be that easy for things to end. Regardless, she nodded and said, "Okay." Despite knowing it wouldn't be easy, Bianca was determined. Natalie felt relieved at Bianca's words. With how Bianca acted, Natalie knew her best friend remained rational and understood what was best for herself.
After Natalie ended the call with Bianca, Austin entered the room. He had spent the entire night in his study dealing with paperwork. Natalie couldn't help but feel concerned seeing the exhaustion in his eyes.
"Did you really stay in the study all night?" she asked.
"Where else would I be?" Austin approached her and pulled her into his embrace.
u "Are you tired? Why don't you rest a bit before eating?" Natalie suggested.
"Will you stay with me?" | Austin's tone was affectionate, causing | Natalie to feel embarrassed. Before she | could respond, he hugged her tightly and led her to bed. Natalie felt flustered, realizing she hadn't changed out of her pajamas.
"I have to send Luna to school!" she protested.
But Austin wrapped his strong arms around her slender waist before she could move, leaving Natalie feeling overwhelmed.
"Lord Austin..." she began, her voice trembling.
At that moment, Austin, who had never harbored any defenses against her, was softened by her vulnerability.
"Let Cole handle it," he said firmly, his
voice tender yet unwavering, Natalie's mind went blank in that moment. When the warmth of his palm moved towards her slender waist, she felt like she had been electrocuted and instinctively wanted to escape.
) "Nat n Just as Natalie was about to struggle, the man's warm breath brushed against her ear, causing her already turbulent heart to become even more chaotic.
There was only one thought in her mind —escape! But Austin also sensed Natalie's unease.
The large hand that was originally around her waist moved instantly to her head, pressing her against his chest.
"Stay with me for a while," he requested.
Natalie stayed silent, feeling overwhelmed. Before she could say anything, she heard Austin's dangerous
4 tone above her head, "My patience is limited!" | Patience? Undoubtedly, Austin was aware of the | roles Irwin and Cedric played in Natalie's life and knew the extent of the damage they had caused her. He had been giving her time to heal and forget slowly.
Meanwhile, Cedric was in Dawnvale.
Austin had witnessed Natalie's attitude towards Cedric, but when it came to Irwin...
"Nat." "Yes?" "Did you really have feelings for Irwin at one point?" The weariness in'/Austin's voice was evident. He was clearly exhausted after spending the whole night dealing with work matters.
| How long had it been since Irwin's name was mentioned before Natalie? | Since Irwin returned to Wexford, neither Cedric's appearance nor Irwin's had stopped Natalie from marrying Austin.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut now, when Austin brought up Irwin, Natalie's emotions churned even more.
"Do you understand the feeling of the dawn's first light, Lord Austin?" she asked.
In her darkest moments, Irwin was like the dawn's first light to her. When there seemed to be no hope, he had descended into her world like a savior, shielding her from all disasters.
At that moment, Natalie recalled Irwin shielding her from sulfuric acid without hesitation. The scars on his back must have remained even now.
Upon hearing Natalie's words, Austin comprehended the situation. Given Cedric's undivided attention to Isabella
while trying to send Natalie to prison repeatedly, it was difficult for Natalie not to develop feelings for Irwin.
But it was precisely that affection that | ultimately became so ironic.
| | "When you knew everything, how much ’ pain were you in?" Eventually, Austin sighed and held Natalie tighter. And Natalie, who had subconsciously tried to escape just a moment ago, now sought refuge in his warmth.
"It doesn't hurt anymore," Natalie whispered, nestling into his embrace.
The room heated up in that instant, fueled by their intimate conversation.
Natalie was right. No matter what she had experienced before, the pain disappeared when Austin took her away from Simeria and all its turmoil.
"Nat."
| "Lord Austin, thank you..." Natalie's delicate arms lay across the man's lean waist. The moment he felt Natalie's response, Austin's whole body trembled.
| "Nat!" ! Austin's voice grew hoarser, filled with an uncontrollable emotion. But this time, Natalie didn't pull away from him. When their eyes met, the haze in her eyes stirred something deep within him.
As their lips met, it felt as though their hearts trembled. It was as if some long- lost past was resurfacing between them.
Deep memories, both familiar and unfamiliar, seemed to blend together in the space between them.