“What did you say?” Annie instantly froze.
Shane, too, glanced at Natalie warily.
Apologizing to Annie profusely in her head, Natalie quickly muttered her last statement a second time.
Instantly, Annie’s face blanched as she staggered back a few steps, reeling from the shock.
Andre rushed forward to support Annie, who would have collapsed otherwise. Everyone else seemed utterly dumbfounded by the turn of events.
Natalie felt a tinge of remorse for what she had said, though there was no way of retracting her words now.
“Please excuse us, Ms. Mackenzie. I’ll bring Annie home to rest for a while. We’ll come back later to visit you,” Andre said ruefully, a forlorn expression on his face.
Mercede nodded graciously. “Of course. We’ll see you out.”
She then gestured for the housekeeper to accompany the Hills out of the house, leaving only Natalie, Shane, and herself in the living room.
Mercede took a seat on the sofa and indicated for them to do so. Hauling Natalie over, Shane asked, “Why did you say that Stanley had a girlfriend?”
“Yes, my dear. I would very much like to know why as well,” Mercede said languidly, crossing her legs.
Having been Natalie’s mentor for years, Mercede was able to deduce right away that Natalie had been lying. However, she had not interfered out of consideration that it was none of her business.
Natalie cleared her throat rather embarrassedly. “I didn’t want to lie either, but I was thinking of Joyce.”
“Joyce?” Mercede furrowed her brows in an effort at recollection, looking sympathetic. “Ah, so that’s why.”
“What do you mean?” Shane questioned, still uncomprehending.
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