When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 534

**Chapter 534: The Unfairness**

A warm sensation enveloped Natalie, filling her heart with a sense of being valued and cherished. The initial waves of panic that had surged through her, stirred by an unknown threat, began to dissipate under Baron’s attentive care. His presence was a calming balm, and she could feel the tension in her body easing away.

“I’m really fine. We should still go…” she insisted, trying to sound convincing, though her voice wavered slightly.

Baron shook his head, his brow furrowing with concern. “It’s swollen, and you say you’re fine? Do you think you’re made of iron? From now on, I won’t drive; I’ll just sit in the back seat with you, just in case something like this happens again.” His tone was laced with self-reproach, as if he held himself responsible for her injury.

Natalie had never experienced such attentive care before. It was a stark contrast to her past. A mere bump on her head, not even breaking the skin, yet Baron was fretting over her like she was made of glass. In her previous life at the Summers family estate, she had endured far worse without a hint of concern. She remembered the countless times her fingers bled from the relentless practice on the piano, only to be dismissed by her parents as a trivial inconvenience. “That’s just how daughters of prominent families go through life,” they would say, their voices devoid of empathy.

During her five years with Jensen, she had scalded her hands repeatedly while preparing medicine and warm porridge for him. Each time, she bore the pain silently, popping the blisters and pushing through the discomfort as if it were her duty. Jensen had never offered a word of comfort, not even a fleeting acknowledgment of her sacrifices. To him, her efforts were simply expected.

But now, here was Baron, fretting over a simple bump, forbidding her from sitting in the passenger seat. The disparity was striking, and Natalie couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude mixed with sadness. It was a revelation, a realization of who truly cared for her heart.

She reached out, gently squeezing Baron’s hand, her voice softening. “Being with you for so long, I feel like I’ve constantly been enjoying your devotion, while I gave my best years and efforts to someone who didn’t deserve them. Baron, that’s not fair to you.” The weight of her words hung in the air, a bittersweet acknowledgment of her past.

Baron looked at her with an intensity that made her heart race. “What’s fair or unfair about it? I love you, and I’m willing to do anything for you. You don’t need to overthink it. When we go inside, I’ll use ice to cool the swelling. Don’t worry about anything else.” His words were firm, yet soothing, as he began to pack up the first aid kit.

Seeing his determination, Natalie chose to hold her tongue, but her mind was already whirring with thoughts of gratitude and guilt.

Just then, a voice broke through her reverie—news from the security team.

“Ms. Natalie, it seems someone really did break into your house. There’s a small gate in the backyard that wasn’t closed. They likely slipped in through that small gate and then escaped from here just now. Ms. Natalie, is anything missing? Should we call the police? This incident today is our failure, and we will accept any scolding or punishment from you, Ms. Natalie. We will closely monitor this small gate in the future.”

Baron quickly retrieved his phone, dialing the police with a sense of urgency. Natalie, though unsure of his exact intentions, trusted his instincts. Baron always seemed to have a plan, and she remained quiet, observing him with admiration.

The police arrived swiftly, their presence bringing a sense of order to the chaos. Oriel wasted no time in presenting the surveillance footage.

“Officer, before this, Mr. Luke and Ms. Natalie were in a relationship, so we assumed he was also an owner here. We only learned today that Ms. Natalie and Mr. Luke broke up a long time ago, and this villa belongs to Ms. Natalie. The surveillance shows that Mr. Luke entered the villa a day ago and hasn’t come out. We’ve checked the footage, and he definitely hasn’t left the villa since entering. There is no footage of him leaving through the back gate either. Just a while ago, we discovered signs of a break-in at Ms. Natalie’s house, so we have reason to suspect that Mr. Luke was kidnapped here. The timing of the kidnapping is uncertain.”

Oriel’s statement sent a jolt through Natalie. The pieces began to fall into place, and she understood Baron’s strategy. Jensen was missing, yet Loretta had not reported it to the police. If Rachel had indeed done something drastic at the airport, the Stone family would never be able to shoulder the risk alone.

Only by involving the police regarding Jensen’s kidnapping could the Stone family’s actions in self-defense against whatever Rachel intended to do with him be deemed legal and justified. The stakes were high, and the reality of the situation loomed over them like a heavy cloud.