The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 8

When they arrived at City Hall, only Hassan stepped out of the vehicle.

Natalie walked up to him. "Wait."

Two steps ahead, Hassan paused and looked back. "Having second thoughts?"

"I let you sleep with me for four years. You owe me something," she said, mimicking his detached tone.

But that perfect composure was hard to fake when four years of memories were stabbing into her heart like a thousand tiny needles. She took a deep breath and continued, "Get Dr. Weston to perform the surgery on my grandmother."

He stared at her with quiet intensity. "You're trading the divorce for this?"

"Yes. Once I know for a fact he's agreed to the surgery, I'll sign the papers."

"Natalie, you know my father will never call Dr. Weston for you. Are you using this as an excuse because you don't actually want a divorce? You know perfectly well my relationship with my father has been toxic ever since I married you."

"I know. That's why you're going to call your grandma Cecily and ask her to help. She adores you. She won't say no."

She spoke clearly, enunciating every word without a hint of emotion. The soft, clingy tone she used to have whenever she begged him for something was completely gone.

Hassan stared at her for a long moment before finally pulling out his phone.

The line connected, and the matriarch's warm, gentle voice came through. "Hassan, what a surprise. Your grandfather and I are playing with the Sheridan family's little one. Children really are so precious. When are you and Natalie planning to have one?"

Within three sentences, Cecily always managed to steer the conversation back to babies. Natalie and Hassan were entirely used to it.

In the past, Natalie would have looked at him with secret, hopeful anticipation, only for him to reply indifferently that there was no rush.

Now, she barely registered the words, waiting quietly for Hassan to get to the point.

"We'll let nature take its course. It'll happen when it happens," he replied smoothly. "I'm calling about something else today. Natalie's grandmother is sick and needs Dr. Weston for a surgery, but he declined the request."

"I'll speak to him. Come over for dinner tonight, the two of you." Cecily’s tone instantly turned authoritative. "I heard a rumor that you and Natalie are getting a divorce? Tell me it isn't true. Let me be clear—not right now. Too many people are watching you. Do not create unnecessary drama."

Cecily's words sent a chill down Natalie's spine.

She handed the doctor two hair samples with the follicles intact. One she had taken from Hassan's bedroom, and the other was one Adrian had shed while thrashing on the floor.

The Carlson family was infinitely powerful. She couldn't expose Hassan's affair publicly—that would be career suicide. But holding onto hard evidence was always good for a little leverage if she ever needed it.

"We'll notify you in five to seven business days."

After signing the paperwork, she immediately left the clinic.

She had no idea that the moment she walked out, the doctor completely bypassed standard protocol. Staring at the two samples, he made a phone call. "Natalie Thornton just dropped off two samples for a DNA test... Understood."

Natalie then headed over to Nancy Gaines's place, where she had stashed all her belongings after moving out of Hassan's penthouse.

Nancy was the exact person Hassan always referred to as her "lazy, deadbeat friend." But the truth was, they had met legitimately during a major competition.

At age twelve, Natalie had entered the International Intelligent Robotics Competition under the alias "H" and taken first place. Nancy had come in second.