Caught Him Cheating My Life Restarted (Natalie) novel Chapter 182

Noticing Natalie's strange expression, Lucas tugged on her arm. "Natalie, what's wrong? Do you know Patrick?"

"I... I do. But we haven't been in touch for many years."

"You know Patrick, Natalie? When?"

"He was just a senior from my school days. We weren't close."

"Oh, I see."

"Yes." Natalie nodded, but her unusual expression didn't escape Terence's notice.

His eyes darkened. He turned to his assistant. "Three minutes. I want everything on Patrick!"

The assistant sucked in a sharp breath as his fingers flew across the keyboard.

Who had he offended today? To be asked to find all the information on an academician in three minutes... Are you kidding me?

Just then, Natalie received a text message from her mother.

[Are you free? Come meet me.]

It came with a location pin for a coffee shop.

What could her mother possibly want?

***

At the coffee shop.

Natalie was shocked to find that her mother wasn't there. Instead, it was... Darren.

She immediately turned to leave, but Darren blocked her path.

"Why do you always run the moment you see me? Can't we talk for a minute?"

"You had my mother lie to get me here. That should tell you we're long past the point of being able to 'talk for a minute.'"

Darren frowned. "Why are you so prickly now? Like a hedgehog, ready to stick anyone who gets close."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You made him feel like you'd use your own son just to please the Lockwoods."

"What a ridiculous idea. Who told you that, Marie or your mother? If they hadn't been poisoning his mind with thoughts like that, would our relationship be this bad?"

Darren was rendered speechless. It was true. They had never said a single good thing about Natalie in front of Hanley, only ever belittling and mocking her.

"I'm trying to fix your relationship with him now. I got a gift for you to give Hanley. It's his favorite."

Darren held out an elegantly wrapped box, but Natalie pushed it away.

"That won't be necessary."

"How can you be so heartless? To not even care about your own child?"

Seeing Natalie's cold demeanor, Darren grew furious. He had thought their son would be her weak spot, but now it seemed she didn't care at all.