The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 78

Natalie stared him down. "Hassan, I'm divorcing you. I will never obediently listen to your demands again. I might have started dancing for you, but it's my own skill now. From now on, I dance only for myself."

His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, his voice dropping to a dangerous register. "Natalie, do you really have to fight me on everything?"

"I'm not fighting you. I'm just done putting up with you, because I don't love you anymore," she said, her voice eerily calm. She was far past the point of hurting over him.

She turned and walked into the walk-in closet.

She couldn't stand looking at his hypocritical face for another second. He was saying sweet things just to coax her into acting like a fool, keeping her perfectly in line as the compliant Mrs. Carlson he had grown so accustomed to.

She would never fall for it again.

Inside the closet, she noticed the phone he had left in the clothes he just took off. The screen lit up.

A text message popped onto the screen.

*[Changed the DNA results exactly as you instructed.]*

Natalie froze instantly.

Hassan had ordered someone to fake the DNA report. He was still actively deceiving her.

Her nails dug so sharply into her palms that they nearly drew blood. Her body suddenly lost all strength, and she slid down the wall until she hit the hardwood floor.

She sat there, her expression completely hollow, and closed her eyes.

To think that, for a split second when she first saw those results, she had actually believed him.

It was utterly laughable.

What did he take her for?

Natalie numbly threw on a change of clothes and left the apartment.

Cecily called out to her, but she walked straight out the door as if she hadn't heard a thing.

She drove straight to the studio.

She changed into her practice gear and danced endlessly, pushing her body until her clothes were completely soaked in sweat.

It was incredibly late by the time she finally left the building.

Refusing to return to Sycamore Quays, she texted Nancy, asking if she could crash at her place.

It was 2:00 AM, and Nancy was likely asleep, as there was no reply.

Lyndon laughed coldly. "You think I'd believe your bullshit? More importantly, I don't need you to drop the charges anymore."

"What are you talking about?"

"A very powerful man said he'd bail me out. And if I deliver you to his bed, he'll give me five million on top of that."

"Lyndon!" Natalie was horrified. Was he completely out of his mind? Was he even human anymore?

"You owe me this! You took the money from the old folks' house sale, didn't you? That was exactly five million! You owe me!"

Lyndon had dark, sunken bags under his eyes. Natalie's gaze dropped to his left hand. His pinky and ring fingers were broken, clumsily wrapped in white bandages.

Suddenly, she understood why he was so desperate for cash. "You've been gambling again."

Lyndon glared at her venomously. "None of your damn business."

He let out a cruel laugh and ordered the other two men, "Drug her. By the time we drop her on his bed, it'll kick in perfectly."

Before Natalie could react, a cloth reeking of harsh chemicals was clamped tightly over her mouth and nose.

Seconds later, the world faded to black.