Chapter 257

Natalie jerked in shock at his severe tone and shied away from his interrogative glare. “What do you
mean, Stanley?”

He raised her chin and forced her to look right into his eyes. “Don’t play dumb, Nat. You know what I
mean.”

Natalie did not like how Stanley was treating her. An irritated frown spread across her brows, and she
pushed him away.

However, Stanley wasn’t going to give her a chance. He increased the pressure and pressed his fingers
against her chin, preventing her from moving at all.

“What are you doing? You’re hurting me!” Natalie cried out in pain.

But Stanley was relentless. He moved closer to her, and his exasperated breaths beat against her
cheeks. “Why, Nat? Why? Why must it be Shane Thompson? Why can’t it be me?”

Natalie looked up at him in complete shock. “Stanley…”

“I’ve waited for you for five years, Nat. I’ve always thought you’d fall for me one day. I was there by your
side, waiting for you to realize how I feel. That’s why I’ve never forced my feelings on you. But what did I
get in return? You fell for him just two months after you got back…” Stanley buried his head into her
shoulder as he vented.

Natalie’s lips quivered at his confession. Her emotions were a mess, and she did not know how she
should respond to Stanley. “I’m so sorry, Stanley. I really have no idea about how you feel towards me.”

All Natalie could do was apologize. She had always taken Stanley as her best friend—nothing more than
that.





Besides, she knew Joyce had feelings for Stanley. She would never trade their friendship for a man!

“How would you’ve known? I’ve never told you anything. I thought one day you’d come to realize that I
have loved you all this while. I waited for five good years—and all for nothing. You end up falling for
Shane. Nat, do you know how much this pains me?” Stanley finally lifted his head and looked at her in
anger.

Natalie let out a gasp and bit her lips without another word. She had never seen Stanley like this before.
The veins on his temples bulged and pulsated as his indignant glare bored through her.

For a moment, Natalie felt like the man standing before her was a complete stranger. Stanley had always
been an elegant and well-mannered young man. She almost couldn’t recognize him in this manner.

“Are you afraid of me?” Stanley asked, toying with a lock of her hair. His tone had softened, yet it was
coldly provocative.

A shudder went down Natalie’s spine as his chilly voice echoed in her ears. She forced a smile and
replied, “Stanley, can you let me go? You’re drunk.”

But Stanley did not move an inch. “I’m not, Nat. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

His fingers rubbed across her lips as his gaze wandered and finally stopped on her lips.

“Nat, I’ve stayed by your side for so many years. And yet, you end up loving someone else. I’ll not give
up now. I’ll make sure you taste my agony!”

Before Natalie could say anything, Stanley forced his lips on hers and kissed her crudely.

Natalie stopped dead in utter shock.



She struggled to free herself from Stanley when she finally came around. Yet, his grip only tightened
around her as his kiss intensified.

He moved his tongue brutally between her lips, making his way into her mouth. But just as Natalie almost
burst out in tears, a solid punch landed on Stanley’s jaw, sending him flying away from her. Losing his
balance, Stanley faltered before he fell and passed out.

“Stanley!” Natalie quickly reacted and dashed towards him.

But Shane tugged her by the wrist and held her back. “Why do you still care for him after what he did to
you?”

Natalie looked back at him and swallowed her words.

Shane’s blood boiled when he saw her raw and reddened lips. His hand unconsciously tightened around
her wrist as he raged. “Let’s go!” he bellowed as he pulled her away.

The sound of Natalie’s high heels echoed rapidly through the hallway as she hastened her steps, trying
hard to keep up with Shane.

“Mr. Shane, we can’t just leave Stanley back there,” she said as she looked back anxiously.

Although Natalie was angry with Stanley for what he did, he was still the person who saved her whole
family. She could not leave him there alone.

“Silas will take care of him,” Shane replied apathetically with his gaze fixed ahead.

Just as Natalie was about to heave a sigh of relief, she suddenly realized that she was actually jumping
out of the frying pan and into the fire. “Mr. Shane, may I know where are we heading?”










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