Sham Marriage Quit Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 236

Chapter 236 Stripped Down

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In that moment, Nathan felt less like a man and more like something people stepped over without a second thought, like a stray mutt lingering in the shadows of a back alley, the kind nobody respected and everybody felt entitled to kick around. No matter who walked by, it seemed like they could take a shot at him and get away with it.

“Hey, move for a second.”

The voice cut through the noise, calm but unmistakable.

Nathan’s body stiffened instantly.

He was still crouched on the ground with his arms locked over his head, but slowly, almost instinctively, he cracked one eye open and looked ahead through the blur of pain.

The group surrounding him had already recognized Elena.

They were all from well–connected families, the kind of people who grew up understanding exactly how power worked. Ever since her marriage to Alexander Kingsley had been made public, Elena was no longer just another executive. Her name carried weight now, and more importantly, consequences.

The mocking expressions on their faces faded almost immediately. The arrogance that had filled the air just seconds ago disappeared as they stepped aside, making space for her without being asked twice.

Elena hadn’t come over because of them.

They just happened to be blocking her car.

“Thanks,” she said, her tone light, as if this was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

She opened the car door, and before getting in, her gaze drifted briefly past

them.

The man on the ground looked completely wrecked. His clothes were dirty, his hair disheveled, his body. curled in on itself like someone who had already given up fighting back.

But the watch on his wrist caught her attention.

Nathan.

Her expression didn’t change. There was no hesitation, no flicker of emotion.

This had nothing

do with her

“Take care, Mrs. Kingsley!”

show of politeness.

She got into the car, started, e.

and drove out of the parking area without looking back.

one of the guys called out after her, even raising a hand in an almost exaggerated

Another leaned closer, lowering his voice. “That’s actually Alexander’s wife?”

“Yeah, that’s her. You’d better watch yourself around her from now on. I heard she’s pregnant too. The Kingsley family’s basically treating her like she’s untouchable.”

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Chapter 236 Stripped Down

Every word slipped into Nathan’s ears like poison.

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Flushed

His chest tightened painfully, as if something inside him was being crushed from the inside out.

“Wait a second,” one of them said suddenly, as if a thought had just clicked into place.

He nudged Nathan’s head with the tip of his shoe. “Wasn’t she your wife before, Nathan? Or am I remembering that wrong?”

Laughter erupted immediately.

“Man, that’s brutal,” someone added with a grin. “You really had her and lost her. Now she’s Mrs. Kingsley, and you’re out here getting wrecked. You don’t even have a shot at Hawthorne Group anymore.”

“Seriously, what goes around comes around,” another chimed in.

The laughter didn’t stop.

It echoed around him, sharp and relentless, until something inside Nathan finally snapped.

A surge of raw, desperate energy pushed him up from the ground as he lunged forward and clamped his teeth down hard on one of their hands.

“Jesus, get him off me! What the hell is wrong with him?!”

The guy screamed, trying to pull away.

The others rushed in immediately, dragging Nathan off and retaliating without holding back. Punches landed hard and fast, each one heavier than the last.

Inside her car, Elena caught the scene in her rearview mirror.

Nathan being beaten again, completely overwhelmed.

Her face remained calm, unreadable, as if she were watching something that didn’t concern her in the slightest.

She pulled up in front of Haze Lounge.

Chloe got into the passenger seat, still glancing over her shoulder. “What’s going on over there? That many people going after one guy is honestly kind of scary.”

The distance was too far for her to recognize Nathan.

If she had, she wouldn’t have stayed in the car.

“No idea,” Elena replied evenly.

“Drive safe, Gideon said, leaning slightly toward the open window.

“You’re not coming with us?” Elena asked.

Gideon lifted an eyebrow, his tone casual. “I’ve got something to take

care

You

TWO

go

ahead.”

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Chapter 236 Stripped Down

“Alright.”

It was getting late anyway.

Elena didn’t press further. She stepped on the gas and drove off with Chloe.

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The moment the car disappeared from view, the easygoing expression on Gideon’s face faded completely.

He turned toward the bar next door, his eyes turning cold.

Back on the ground, Nathan had already lost track of how many hits he had taken. At least they weren’t aiming to kill him, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

“Nathan.”

The voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

Evan stepped out of the bar.

His polished shoes stopped directly on Nathan’s face.

Looking down at him, Evan let out a short, mocking laugh. “I’ve got to admit, seeing you like this… it’s hard to connect it with the guy who used to act like he ran everything.”

Nathan tried to grab his foot, but Evan pressed down harder, grinding his fingers into the pavement.

“If you have any sense left, you’ll leave Westoria and stay gone,” Evan said, his tone almost bored. “Grandpa. doesn’t need to worry about anything. My dad and I will take care of him.”

Nathan knew exactly what that meant.

If he left, he would never come back.

Hawthorne Group would be completely out of reach.

“I’m not leaving,” Nathan forced out through gritted teeth. “Drop it.”

Evan laughed again, sharper this time.

He grabbed Nathan by the hair and yanked his head up. “You and your dad are both useless. Do you actually think staying changes anything? Hawthorne Group almost went under because of you. You got played by a woman and wrecked everything.”

His voice dropped, filled with contempt. “You’re a joke.”

Nathan couldn’t hold it in anymore. He forced himself up and threw himself a

Evan.

But he had already burned through whatever strength he had left. Evan sidestepped easily.

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