As Irwin had said, all the injuries Cedric inflicted upon her were undeniably real.
But in Natalie's eyes, Irwin's schemes were even more terrifying than Cedric's.
"Let go of me." She struggled to break free from his grasp, but Irwin's grip around her slender waist only tightened further.
She was delicate.
The more she struggled, the tighter he held her, rendering her motionless.
His deep voice rumbled above her, "Did you get the file?"
Natalie was silent, and her heart grew colder!
All her struggles ceased at his words.
"How much do you really know about Cly?" she asked.
"No matter how much, it's just some files. Rest assured... I'll help you destroy the ones in Cedric's hands. After that, no one will threaten you again."
Hah!
Was he joking?
No one would threaten her again?
Yet, here he was, doing exactly that.
Eventually, Irwin released her.
When Natalie left, Irwin personally escorted her to her car. Just as the car door closed, he whispered, "Nat, if I wanted you to know who I truly am, I wouldn't do it the way I did in Meridiania."
"..."
The atmosphere, already tense, grew colder at his words.
Whenever Irwin mentioned that day at Meridiania, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
Her gaze towards Irwin was icy.
Irwin gently touched her cheek. "You, like Yves, place too much trust in what you see and hear."
There wasn't much explanation, but the warmth in his tone made it almost impossible not to trust him.
Yes, Irwin wasn't that kind of person.
No matter how fearsome he might seem, he always faced things head-on. If he wanted to show her that side of him, he wouldn't explain.
And now...!
"It doesn't matter what kind of person you are," Natalie retorted coldly.
Indeed, none of this mattered to her anymore.
Irwin sighed in resignation.
He stood up, shutting the car door behind her.
At that moment, both of them returned to their respective worlds, their expressions reverting to their usual demeanor.
Irwin stood still and watched as the car disappeared into the distance. The chilly wind tousled his hair, lending him a disheveled yet captivating appearance.
Adrian appeared behind Irwin. "She more complex than she looks."
Especially after Wexford, those around Irwin could sense Natalie's growing distance from him. This wasn't because of Stephen. It stemmed from Natalie's own inherent defensiveness and sensitivity.
At Adrian's comment, Irwin's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Indeed, My Nat... how could she be a simple person?" His tone was tender, almost affectionate.
Yet, beneath Adrian's gaze lurked deep concern for Irwin.
Irwin had initially plotted against Cedric as revenge, but over time, his intentions had shifted.
He genuinely wanted Natalie away from Cedric. It was why he ensured her safety by inadvertently shielding her from any harm that came her way.
Given the traps he set, he knew every potential outcome.
If it wasn't because Irwin felt something for Natalie, why would he protect her?
But this time...
"Do you trust her this time?" Adrian's voice was filled with lingering apprehension.
Irwin's feelings for Natalie were genuine!
Ever since Cedric, she pushed her self-preservation mechanisms to the absolute limit.
After the incident in Meridiania, she managed not to call Irwin even once, showing how determined she was to protect herself.
She could truly distance herself as if she had no connection to the situation.
Such a heart... was hard to come by.
And Irwin was determined to get it.
-
By the time Natalie returned to Peach Garden, it was nearing ten in the evening.
Cedric stood outside, illuminated by the cold glow of the streetlights, looking utterly desolate.
When Natalie stepped out of Irwin's car, an overwhelming chill seemed to emanate from him.
Without waiting for her to react, he grabbed her wrist firmly, his voice carrying a restrained intensity, "You went to see Irwin?"
"Yes."
"Do you know that he-."
"I do," Natalie interrupted Cedric before he could finish, her gaze unwavering.
At that moment, the depths of Cedric's eyes reflected a restrained ferocity.
In contrast to Cedric's intensity, Natalie was calm as she slowly pulled her wrist free from his grip.
"Since you know, why did you still see him?"
"Cedric!" Amidst the man's intense questioning, Natalie cut him off with a cold and sharp tone.
As her vision of the world blurred around her, her thoughts were clearer than ever.
She looked at Cedric and said, "Who you are to him has nothing to do with me."
So, he could stop acting as if she needed to know, understand, or care about something!
She didn't need anything, nor did she need to be considerate of anything.
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