The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 91

No one would ever believe Natalie's side of the story. In their eyes, Adrian was just a sweet, innocent six-year-old boy.

Natalie's heart hollowed out into pure, unadulterated despair. Walking out of the police station, she grabbed Hassan's arm, a sliver of vulnerability finally breaking through her voice. "What will it take for you to drop the charges? There is no way my grandmother would ever try to hurt me."

A profound sense of powerlessness washed over her entirely.

Hassan lowered his gaze, his expression completely unreadable. "You really trust your so-called family that much?"

"Hassan, you know as well as I do that she would never harm me. How could she? Yvonne and Lemuel took me in and raised me. If it weren't for them, do you think I'd even be standing here today?"

"People change, Natalie." His tone was flat, almost cruel in its sheer indifference.

"Yeah, they do." Her voice slowly frosted over. "But the one who changed wasn't my grandmother. It was you."

She wiped the tears from her cheeks and refused to look at him again.

Upon returning to Sycamore Quays, Natalie sought out Cecily, hoping the older woman might help her.

Natalie stepped closer. "My grandmother couldn't have done this."

The older woman nodded, clearly already briefed on the situation. "Have you asked Hassan why he's doing this?"

Natalie lowered her eyes. "I don't know his exact motives, but I do know the evidence came straight from Gardenia."

Hassan was simply helping Gardenia frame her family.

Cecily's brush paused. She shot Natalie a sharp look. "He wouldn't do something so childish."

"He would do anything for Gardenia."

Cecily's brow furrowed. "If Hassan has already made up his mind, even I can't talk him out of it. You need to think of a different approach. Offer him something he actually cares about."

Natalie froze, her pupils dilating slightly.

It was laughable, really. They always preached about being a family, but when push came to shove, everything was purely transactional. It was exactly what one would expect from the Carlson family.

But Hassan had given strict instructions to the front desk. Security refused to let her near the elevators.

So, she sat on one of the plush sofas in the lobby and waited.

Hassan had to leave the building eventually. If he wouldn't let her up, she'd corner him down here.

He couldn't just live in the office indefinitely.

Noon passed. She still hadn't caught a glimpse of Hassan. Instead, she was surprised to see Tilda coming downstairs for a coffee run.

Natalie blinked, immediately stepping forward. "Aunt Tilda? What are you doing here?"

Tilda looked just as startled. "I changed jobs. I work here now."

Natalie nodded, slightly dazed. "Why are you working here...?"