The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 44

Meanwhile, he had been living it up with his first love, playing the devoted father to his child.

Did he spare even a single second to think about Natalie?

He couldn't utter a single word in response.

Natalie laughed bitterly. She had long stopped caring about whatever answer he could give.

She opened the door herself and stepped out of the car.

Standing under the bright sun, her heart felt like it was made of ice.

His silence had already explained everything.

In the end, she had gained absolutely nothing from this marriage, except a body full of scars and the loss of the best parts of herself.

That radiant, unapologetic Natalie was never coming back.

When she returned home, she threw her arms around Nancy Gaines, who was in the study tinkering with a robot.

Nancy immediately sensed that something was wrong. "What's the matter? Didn't you go with Mia to her school today?"

Natalie spoke, her voice laced with exhaustion, "Hassan doesn't seem to want a divorce."

"What?" Nancy frowned instantly. "Is he out of his mind? I thought he didn't even like you. Plus, he's already got a kid with his old flame. What right does he have to refuse a divorce? Is he trying to have his cake and eat it too?"

"I don't know, I'm just so tired." Her entire body felt drained of energy, and the root of her tongue still ached. He had never been so rough before; it felt like he wanted to devour her alive.

That was just him venting his frustration, not love.

During that deep kiss, for just one fleeting second, she had felt like Hassan truly loved her.

But she knew better. It was an illusion.

It was all fake.

Nancy's excitement dialed back a bit. She bit her lip and lowered her eyes. "You know I only sell through anonymous channels."

The 'anonymous channels' she was referring to were hidden forums on the dark web where both parties transacted without ever knowing each other's identities.

The robots she sold would never bear her signature, meaning they could easily be flipped and claimed as someone else's work the moment they changed hands.

Natalie had no idea why Nancy insisted on hiding her identity, but she knew deep down that Nancy must have been forced into this lifestyle.

She had heard Nancy mention fragments of her past before—how, for as long as she could remember, she had been a child beggar on the streets until she was eventually taken in by the director of a foster home.

Anything beyond that, Nancy refused to talk about.

"If there ever comes a day when you don't have to hide anymore, let's reach the top together, okay?" Natalie brushed a hand against her cheek. "That day will come, won't it?"

Nancy smiled, but tears suddenly spilled from her eyes. She turned away and shook her head, terrified of making that promise. "Um, have you finished the robot you're taking to the exhibition? I haven't seen it yet. Bring it home when it's done so I can take a look."

Watching her retreat back into her protective shell, Natalie softly replied, "Okay."