The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 129

When Natalie finally opened her eyes, Tilda was sitting by her hospital bed.

The second she stirred, Tilda immediately buzzed for the doctor.

After the doctor finished a thorough check-up and left, Tilda handed Natalie a carefully peeled orange. "The doctor said it was just an episode of low blood sugar. Have you not been eating properly?"

Natalie took the orange. "I just haven't had much of an appetite lately."

Tilda stared at her, her expression unreadable.

Natalie lowered her head, eating the orange in small, quiet bites.

"Aunt Tilda... about your job, I'm so sorry," Natalie finally said. "I know you took it for the money. Why didn't you just come to me? I know you don't want anything to do with me, but you could have just treated it as a loan."

Tilda's eyelashes fluttered. She completely sidestepped the money question. "You don't have to worry about my job. That manager and the director were both fired, and management is actually talking about promoting me to manager."

Natalie nodded softly. "That's good."

Tilda looked at her steadily. "Hassan found out what happened. He's the one who fired them."

Natalie kept her eyes glued to her lap, her voice distant. "I know."

Tilda pulled out her phone to check the time. "He treats you well. Just stay with the Carlsons and live a good life. Stop worrying about my parents' medical bills. And... thank you for today."

Despite everything, Tilda's stance hadn't changed.

"Aunt Tilda, can I ask you something?" Natalie whispered. "Why do you think I'm the reason my mom died?"

Tilda's fingers tightened convulsively around her phone. She stared at Natalie, her voice hard. "If it weren't for you, she'd still be alive. So just... stay away from us."

"Don't ever ask me about your mother again." Tilda set up the overbed table, opened a container of soup she had bought, and placed it in front of her. She grabbed her purse and stood up. "Let it cool down a bit before you eat. I have to get back. Get some rest."

Natalie sat frozen in the hospital bed, her mind spinning in chaotic circles. Did her mother die from complications related to giving birth to her? But her mother had never once mentioned any lingering health issues from the pregnancy.

Not long after Tilda left, Zeke walked in.

Natalie was genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Zeke placed a high-end thermal food container on the bedside table. "Cecily asked me to check on you. She's still out of the country."

Natalie nodded, her eyes distant and thoughtful. "I'm fine, really. It was just another low blood sugar spell. You can go back to work. Thank you."

Zeke stood there, studying her in silence for a long moment, before finally giving a curt nod. "Understood."

He turned to leave, but paused at the door, glancing back. "Is there anything else you want to eat? I can go get it. Cecily made it very clear that I need to make sure you're taken care of."

Natalie blinked, caught off guard. "No, I'm fine."

She looked down and started eating her soup, clearly ending the conversation.

Zeke stood in the doorway for another two seconds before finally walking away.

Since it was a minor issue, Natalie was discharged shortly after.

When she returned to Sycamore Quays, she was surprised to find Cecily sitting regally on the living room sofa. She figured the older woman must have just flown back.

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