The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 97

The next day, Nancy went as her proxy.

The executive handling the contract signing turned out to be Tilda. Nancy recognized her immediately from family photos Natalie had shown her and was briefly taken aback.

Tilda, having never met Nancy, remained completely professional. "Are you Seven?"

Nancy nodded and walked over.

They discussed several details, and given Nancy's sharp competence, Tilda didn't suspect a thing. Once the contract was signed, Nancy quickly slipped her mask back on and left to head home.

Thinking about how Natalie had been too stressed to eat properly lately, Nancy stopped by the grocery store to pick up some fresh seafood and ribs, planning to cook her a proper meal.

While browsing the aisles, Nancy suddenly spotted Gardenia with Adrian. Disgusted, she quickly texted Natalie to vent.

"I just ran into your husband's mistress at the grocery store."

Natalie replied, clearly unamused. "Stop calling her 'my husband's mistress.' It makes it sound like we're in some twisted love triangle."

"And she's got that creepy kid with her too."

Keeping her mask pulled high, Nancy watched from a distance. She saw Gardenia stop in the family planning aisle and toss two boxes of condoms into her cart.

Nancy nearly gagged right there. She texted Natalie again: "You haven't been sleeping with Hassan lately, have you?"

"Of course not. We're getting a divorce. Why on earth would I sleep with him?"

Nancy gritted her teeth. "Good. That man is filthy. Stay far away."

She added, "Come over to my place for dinner tonight. I already bought the groceries."

Natalie agreed.

Just as Nancy locked her phone, a sudden, inexplicable chill ran down her spine. Her body froze. Her pupils dilated as she whipped her head around, but there was no one behind her.

She lowered her eyes, yanked her mask up tighter, hastily paid for her items, and practically sprinted home.

...

That evening, Cecily called Natalie to ask about the partnership with Seven. When she found out Natalie had successfully brokered the deal, she was genuinely surprised, assuming Natalie had just gotten incredibly lucky to know someone so important.

"I had the housekeeper make some soup," Cecily said. "Make sure you come home early tonight."

"You go ahead and eat. I'm going to visit my grandmother tonight."

It was very late by the time Natalie finally returned to Sycamore Quays. Cecily was waiting for her in the living room and had actually saved her a bowl of the soup, immediately ordering the housekeeper to heat it up.

Natalie truly felt the older woman was wasting her time.

But she didn't argue. "Thank you, Cecily."

The broth warmed her stomach, and it was undeniably soothing.

She knew it was packed with holistic fertility remedies.

But considering she and Hassan weren't even touching each other, it was completely pointless.

She brushed it off entirely.

When she walked into the master bedroom, however, she noticed a small, bright blue box resting on the nightstand.

She furrowed her brow.

The plastic wrapping was completely intact. It was brand new.

Previously, she had tricked Hassan into thinking Cecily had ordered the maids to poke holes in the ones they kept in the drawer.