The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 30

She hadn't thought much of it at the time. The older woman had asked questions like that on multiple occasions; elders just loved to nag.

But thinking back on it now, the implication was completely different.

Cecily had definitely tampered with something.

That bowl of tonic... there was absolutely something in it.

Because the soup hadn't caused any issues for the past four years, she had let her guard down and drank it without a second thought.

Right now, her entire body felt like it was burning up, and Hassan had to be feeling even worse.

Moments later, the man pressed against her again. Without any hesitation, he slipped his hand under her shirt, causing her body to tremble violently.

Clinging to the last shreds of her rationality, she forcefully shoved him away and shot up from the bed. She yanked open the nightstand drawer, grabbed the two backup boxes of condoms inside, and hurled them straight out the balcony window.

Sure enough, by the time she walked back in, he had already retreated to the bathroom for a cold shower.

Without protection, there was zero chance he would touch her.

She poured herself two glasses of ice water and downed them both.

Cecily hadn't spiked them with anything dangerously potent; it wasn't impossible to ride out.

Suddenly, Hassan called out to her from the bathroom.

Natalie frowned. Draining the last drop of water, she walked over and asked, "What is it?"

"My clothes fell on the floor and got soaked. Get me another set."

She walked over to the walk-in closet and casually grabbed one of his bathrobes.

The bathroom door cracked open, and the man's long, elegant hand reached out.

She handed the robe over.

But without warning, that hand slid past the fabric, seized her wrist, and yanked her straight inside.

She crashed into a damp, heavy embrace, the subtle scent of his body wash filling her lungs.

The maid shook her head. "She says she's in a bit of a rush."

Cecily looked down at the adorable little boy next to her. "But the child hasn't even finished his breakfast yet. Tell her to give us an address, and I'll have the driver drop him off when he's done."

"Understood." The maid relayed the message. Hearing the address through the receiver, she looked visibly surprised. She glanced at Natalie, then back at Cecily. "She's actually at the Kingswood Arts Center right now."

Cecily's eyes widened. "Is she?" She immediately smiled. "Well, that's perfect! Tell her to go ahead. Natalie can just drop him off when she goes in."

She beamed at Natalie. "You can even take the opportunity to chat with her! Find out how she managed to raise such a wonderfully behaved boy. Get a head start on some parenting tips!"

Natalie's grip tightened around her porcelain spoon. "I don't work there anymore."

Cecily froze, her eyes snapping up to look at her. "What? Why? Didn't you absolutely love that job?"

Even though Cecily had always said the job wasn't exactly respectable and she'd be better off as a full-time housewife, she had still been doing it for four years. Why quit so suddenly?

Hassan's tone was flat and indifferent. "She wasn't suited for it."

Natalie shot him a scathing glare. "Oh, really? Four years, and *now* I'm suddenly not suited for it?"