Chapter 14
Natalie stared at Tobias, waiting for him to say something. After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke up. “Let’s eat”
Natalie blinked, surprised. “Eat?” His tone sounded playful, totally unlike him.
Her shock was clear, and Tobias let out a soft chuckle. “You crashed the wedding, and you can’t even treat me to a meal? I have a meeting later, you know, I can’t go on an empty stomach
Natalie couldn’t argue with that. She remembered how much he hated being hungry. When they were married, she often cooked for him. As those memories came flooding back, Tobias opened the car door, hopped in the driver’s seat, and pressed the gas pedal.
Natalie snapped back to reality, eyeing Tobias suspiciously. “Didn’t you say we had a driver?”
“The driver said it would take some time,” he replied casually.
Natalie stopped asking questions. She knew he never lied.
Tobias glanced over her face, his eyes lingering a little longer on her cheeks and eyes. “Are you thinking about what happened after we got married?”
“Kind of It just feels like you’ve changed, but at the same time, you haven’t changed that much,” Natalie admitted. She honestly felt that the man sitting next to her was more complicated than before.
Ahint of self-mockery flickered in T**’s eyes. “And how much have you changed?”
Natalie chuckled lightly. “It feels like ages ago, Mr. Reese. You’ve had a decade of my youth, and now you want to throw that in my face?” Even though there were reasons for being with Tobias, she felt she hadn’t done anything wrong. During her time as Mrs. Reese, she had done her part.
To**’s gaze darkened a bit, a cold glint in his eyes.
Natalie expected him to take her to a nice restaurant, but instead, he drove them to their old villa
“You’re cooking,” he said, tossing the order over his shoulder as he headed upstairs.
Natalie frowned but didn’t argue. She walked into the kitchen and quickly got to work. Everything looked the same-well- kept, no new furniture, almost like it had six years ago. After finishing the meal, she noticed Tobias still hadn’t come downstairs. Just like old times. Giving in, she headed upstairs to find him.
The study door was slightly open. Through the gap, she spotted Tobias on a video call..
When he saw her, he waved and pointed to an empty cup next to him.
Natalie’s lips twitched with annoyance, but before she could think, she moved in. She grabbed the cup, filled it with water, and set it back down
T**s expression softened a little as he lifted the cup to his lips for a sip.
Thinking she could slip away now, Natalie turned to leave, but suddenly, she felt his hand on her wrist.
With a gentle tug. Tobias pulled her into his arms. Natalie gasped, her protest stuck in her throat, but he pressed a finger to her lips, urging her to look at the screen.
When she glanced over, she realized he was on a video call. The other person had their camera on while Tobias had his off, keeping a professional front. The guy across from him sat up straight, discussing plans with Tobias, who responded smoothly as if nothing unusual was going on, Natalie took a deep breath, left speechless. Finally, she said, “Okay, just tell me what you want.”
Tobias stared at her, pausing for what felt like forever before he slowly began to speak, “L…”
Natalie stared at Tobias, waiting for him to say something. After few seconds of silence, he finally spoke up. “Let’s eat.”
Natalie blinked, surprised. “Eat?” His tone sounded playful, totally unlike him.
Her shock was clear, and Tobias let out a soft chuckle. “You crashed the wedding, and you can’t even treat me to a meal? 1 have a meeting later, you know. I can’t go on an empty stomach
Natalie couldn’t argue with that. She remembered how much he hated being hungry. When they were married, she often. cooked for him. As those memories came flooding back, Tobias opened the car door, hopped in the driver’s seat, and pressed the gas pedal.
Natalie snapped back to reality, eyeing Tobias suspiciously. “Didn’t you say we had a driver?”
“The driver said it would take some time, he replied casually,Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Natalie stopped asking questions. She knew he never lied.
Tobias glanced over her face, his eyes lingering a little longer on her cheeks and eyes. “Are you thinking about what happened after we got married?”
“Kind of. It just feels like you’ve changed, but at the same time, you haven’t changed that much, Natalie admitted. She honestly felt that the man sitting next to her was more complicated than before.
A hint of self-mockery flickered in T**’s eyes. “And how much have you changed?”
Natalie chuckled lightly. “It feels like ages ago, Mr. Reese. You’ve had a decade of my youth, and now you want to throw that in my face?” Even though there were reasons for being with Tobias, she felt she hadn’t done anything wrong. During her time as Mrs. Reese, she had done her part.
To**’s gaze darkened a bit, a cold glint in his eyes.
Natalie expected him to take her to a nice restaurant, but instead, he drove them to their old villa
“You’re cooking,” he said, tossing the order over his shoulder as he headed upstairs.
Natalie frowned but didn’t argue. She walked into the kitchen and quickly got to work. Everything looked the same-well- kept, no new furniture, almost like it had six years ago. After finishing the meal, she noticed Tobias still hadn’t come downstairs. Just like old times. Giving in, she headed upstairs to find him.
The study door was slightly open. Through the gap, she spotted Tobias on a video call
When he saw her, he waved and pointed to an empty cup next to him.
Natalie’s lips twitched with annoyance, but before she could think, she moved in. She grabbed the cup, filled it with water, and set it back down.
T** expression softened a little as he lifted the cup to his lips for a sip.
Thinking she could slip away now, Natalie turned to leave, but suddenly, she felt his hand on her wrist.
With a gentle tug. Tobias pulled her into his arms. Natalic gasped, her protest stuck in her throat, but he pressed a finger to her lips, urging her to look at the screen.
When she glanced over, she realized he was on a video call. The other person had their camera on while Tobias had his off, keeping a professional front. The guy across from him sat up straight, discussing plans with Tobias, who responded smoothly as if nothing unusual was going on.
Memories rushed back to Natalie, and she felt overwhelmed. She wasn’t shy, but being with Tobias always felt different. He had this cool, distant vibe. Still, she knew he was secretly playful and mischievous. They had shared intimate moments everywhere in the living room, at the dining table, even on the floor.
Tobias just had a way of getting close to her, and she had loved every second. But now, it was different. “Let go!” Natalie whispered urgently, pushing against him.
Tobias didn’t move, seeming to ignore her. His hand drifted to a place it shouldn’t have.
Her face burned. After all those years sharing a bed, they knew each other too well; it was tough to push him away. She stifled a moan that threatened to escape her lips. When she glanced at Tobias again, he was still discussing business, his face calm, almost teasing her.
Natalie was furious. Finally understanding his teasing, she leaned in closer and lowered her voice. ‘Don’t push it too far, or don’t blame me if I speak up. If she did, the guy on the other end would definitely laugh at Tobias for ages.
Looking down at her. Tobias pinched her cheek playfully, finally acknowledging her. “It’s fine. You can call him out.”
Natalie was stunned. She shouldn’t have come back with him. Who would’ve thought that after six years, he’d still think like this? “Tobias, does Elle not satisfy you? Why do you keep teasing me? Is your ex-wife really that special?” She emphasized the word ‘ex-wife, making her feelings clear.
Tobias had clearly lost interest, which meant the teasing was over He let go of her, and his expression turned cold. “Let’s go. Ill be ready in a minute.”
Natalie quickly left the study and stepped out of the villa she used to call home. The heat on her face faded as she muttered insults under her breath, calling him a jerk before heading away
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was Yulisa. “This is your fault, isn’t it? You ruined my happiness!” Yulisa’s voice was filled with anger
Natalie shrugged, “With Quinn acting like that, do you really think he’s a good match for you? You should thank me for stepping in.”
I already knew about all that! Did I need you to spell it out? I had a plan to deal with that woman myself. Why did you have to mess things up? You did this on purpose!” Yulisa snapped, frustration bubbling over.
Natalie wasn’t surprised. In their wealthy family, everything was connected like a puzzle, and everyone was pretending they didn’t know the truth. There were unspoken rules; as long as nothing was said outright, everything could be handled quietly But with her around, those secrets would come to light-a fact she found entertaining
Natalie tightened her grip on her purse, a slight smile creeping onto her lips. She still had a big surprise planned for the Guzman family. As for Tobias, once she sorted out her own issues, she would deal with him too. He thought he could mess with her? Ugh, what a jerk!
At the DKing Restaurant, Natalie sat elegantly at a table, enjoying her lunch, while across from her sal a miniature version of herself-her daughter, Yara-who was fidgeting in her seat.
“Mommy, I’m full! Can I go shop for a bit?” Yara pouted sweetly,
“Sure, go ahead,” Natalie stifled a yawn. She knew her daughter’s playful side was kicking in. It was fine; they were in a safe place, and Yara wouldn’t get lost.
Qutside the restaurant, a line of fancy cars pulled up. A well-dressed crowd surrounded a man in a sharp suit. “Mr. Reese, this restaurant is the most famous one in Jonton. I reserved the whole place for you as a sign of our sincerity!”
Tobias seemed unimpressed, his demeanor calm, but the enthusiasm of those around him didn’t fade.
Just as they were about to enter, a waiter stepped in their path with a polite smile. I’m sorry, but the restaurant is closed to outside guests today. You’ll need to turn back.”
The group froze in shock, especially Kenneth Buckley, the leader, who couldn’t believe it. “I’m a VIP member! I reserved this place for the day. Am I really considered an outside guest?”