The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 75

Natalie shook her head. "You don't need to apologize for him. Even if he begged for my forgiveness himself, I wouldn't accept it."

She just wanted to cut all ties with these people.

Yale nodded quietly. "I'll keep a closer eye on him."

"Thank you for today, really. I owe you one," Natalie said.

He shook his head. "Don't mention it. Jacob was the one causing trouble. As his friend, making up for it is the least I can do."

With that, Yale didn't linger.

Natalie watched his retreating figure, feeling a bit puzzled.

It suddenly dawned on her that every time they interacted, Yale always left in a hurry.

She didn't overthink it, assuming he probably disliked her just as much as the rest of them did but was simply better at hiding it.

No one in Hassan's circle actually liked her.

Not that she cared anymore.

With Lyndon's situation handled, Natalie's phone rang. It was Aunt Tilda.

Tilda's voice was heavy. "I know you've been dealing with the Lyndon situation. Thank you. But from now on, I'd appreciate it if you stayed out of my parents' affairs. I've already hired my own lawyer to handle Lyndon."

Natalie's eyes stung. "Why?"

"Natalie, I told you a long time ago. I don't want our family involved with you any more than necessary."

"There has to be a reason, Aunt Tilda. Grandpa and Grandma are the only family I have left."

A weary sigh filtered through the speaker. "Don't you have Hassan? You have him, and that's enough. He'll protect you."

"Hassan and I are getting a divorce. I've already signed the papers."

Tilda was genuinely shocked. "What? Since when? How is that possible?"

"Recently. I just didn't want Grandma to worry, so I haven't told her."

Her mother's gentle face was already fading in her memory. Fighting back the burning sensation in her nose, she walked out of the building.

Returning to Sycamore Quays, she figured she wouldn't run into Hassan again.

To her surprise, he was waiting by the elevators.

A young girl from another floor was standing there too, stealing not-so-subtle glances at him.

When the elevator doors chimed open, Natalie didn't step in. She decided to wait for the next one.

As the doors began to close, Hassan reached out to block them, his dark eyes locking onto hers.

Natalie hesitated.

The young girl probably assumed they were strangers and that Hassan was just being a gentleman. Her eyes practically sparkled with infatuation.

Natalie walked in and stood on the same side as the girl.

In the confined space, various perfumes mixed together, but Natalie's sensitive nose easily picked out the distinct, clean scent that belonged to Hassan. She hated her heightened sense of smell in that moment. If she could, she would completely block out anything related to him.