The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 85

Hassan's tone was flat. "Is that really all?"

Natalie glared at him. "What else did you think happened? That I seduced him?"

"Do you really have to speak to me like that?"

She took a deep breath. "How else should I speak to you?"

If Hassan hadn't suddenly shown up at their private dining room, Natalie wouldn't have had to hide outside.

If she hadn't been hiding, she would never have given that creep the opportunity to corner her. She would have simply gone back with Professor Adler and the rest of the team.

Hassan's eyes were pitch black. He suddenly let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Fine. Then keep standing right there. Let's see what he does to you when he wakes up."

Natalie lowered her gaze. "I suppose the Carlson family wouldn't want a Mrs. Carlson with this kind of stain on her reputation. Does this mean you can finally agree to a divorce?"

Hassan's lips pressed into a tight, hard line.

Yale stepped in, waving his hands. "Alright, enough. Both of you. This isn't the place for an argument."

Natalie turned her head away, refusing to say another word.

She listened as Hassan made a call to his grandfather. "Grandpa, didn't you go fishing with Mr. Walsh just a couple days ago?"

Augustus paused. "Why are you bringing that up now?"

"I beat up his grandson," Hassan said quietly. "He's in a hospital bed right now."

"You did what?" Augustus was usually an incredibly genial man. He rarely interfered in the younger generation's business, having stepped back from the family empire even more thoroughly than Cecily. He spent his days practicing calligraphy, fishing, drinking tea, and playing chess.

But now, a hint of genuine anger edged his voice. "What exactly happened that you had to take things this far?"

Hassan lowered his eyes. "It's complicated to explain over the phone. Just give him a heads-up for now."

After a brief silence, Augustus sighed. "Fine." The line went dead.

Natalie stood rooted to the spot.

Hassan looked at her. "Go home for now."

Without hesitating for a single second, Natalie turned and walked out.

Hassan watched the door slam shut behind her and muttered under his breath, "Ungrateful little brat."

Natalie paused, shooting a glance at Marvin.

Marvin threw his hands up in surrender. "The Professor kept interrogating me! I only told him because I was backed into a corner!"

Natalie ran a hand through her hair. It wasn't that she had intentionally tried to hide it from Professor Adler, but her past felt incredibly foolish, and she had just wanted to bury it.

Professor Adler gave a cold harrumph. "At least he still acts like a human. If he saw you being bullied and didn't even know how to throw a punch, he wouldn't be much of a man at all."

Natalie forced a tight smile. She had nearly been assaulted, and Hassan had only stepped in to protect the Carlson family's pride.

When Gardenia had been just slightly too close with Jacob Holt, Hassan had publicly beaten Jacob—a man he had grown up with.

The contrast was painfully laughable.

That evening, exactly as Natalie had predicted, they were summoned back to the main estate for dinner.

Since Augustus had to personally intervene to smooth over the Walsh family incident, this dinner was undoubtedly meant to be a warning to the younger generation.

The moment Natalie walked in, Augustus's eyes locked onto her.