Zachary glanced at Natasha with a hint of confusion.
"It's not nervousness. It's fear!" Natasha admitted, her voice tinged with frustration.
Even though she wasn't at fault for what happened, the Foster family had suffered a public humiliation in front of so many important people that day. She couldn't shoulder this responsibility.
Inside the room, Steven was half-reclining on the edge of the bed. Upon hearing the noise, he opened his eyes.
"Zachary, you can leave," Steven said calmly.
Zachary hesitated for a moment but then nodded, stepping out and closing the door behind him.
Natasha felt a bit uneasy. But judging Steven's demeanor, he had calmed down significantly.
"This must have been hard for you," Steven said, his hand gently squeezing hers, his eyes filled with concern.
Hearing this from him, Natasha finally let out a relieved sigh.
More than anything, she felt touched. A man she had only met a few times could clearly see the truth of the situation, unlike her own family, who never stood by her or spoke out against the injustice she faced.
After chatting for a while, Natasha remembered that Zachary was waiting outside.
"It's getting late, Mr. Foster Senior. You should rest. I'll come see you again when I have the time," Natasha said sincerely, eager to build a closer bond with Steven.
As she stepped out of the Foster residence, she unexpectedly ran into Matthew.
"I'll drive you back," Zachary said, ignoring Matthew.
Natasha nodded, acknowledging Zachary's gesture.
"Really, Natasha? Are you not even pretending anymore? From the beginning, you were after Uncle Zachary, weren't you?" Matthew fumed, storming toward her.
Zachary stepped in front of her, blocking Matthew's path. One look from Zachary was enough to make Matthew freeze in his tracks.
"You two… You're really something. Neither of you are any good!"
Back in her room, Natasha silently packed her things and freshened up, acting as if nothing had happened that night.
"What's your relationship with Zachary?" Liana asked cautiously.
Natasha paused for a moment, not answering.
"Alright, I won't ask if you don't want to talk about it," Liana said.
It was clear from Natasha's silence that something had happened between them.
Suddenly, Natasha's usual calm demeanor faded, and she looked conflicted. She finally told Liana about what had just occurred.
"Do you think I was too harsh with Zachary?" Natasha asked, frowning. She often spoke without thinking, even though Zachary hadn't done anything wrong.
"Too harsh? It's more than that. Given everything that's happened lately, it's clear that his feelings for you are more complicated than you might think…"
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