Forgive the Knife, Not the Lie

"I know." Natalie nodded, her tone completely flat. "Is there anything else?"

Adrian frowned. "You… aren't angry?"

Something was off. Everything felt wrong.

If this were before, she would have caused a huge scene.

Why had she suddenly become so cold?

"I'm not angry. She's right. I am a corpse in bed, and I don't know how to please you. But it's obvious she makes you very happy. As long as you're happy, that's fine."

After organizing the documents, she prepared to take them out to her assistant.

Adrian suddenly grew irritated. "And you say you're not angry? If you're not angry, why are you talking like this? All sarcastic and cutting. It makes me really uncomfortable!"

"Then what do you want me to say?" Natalie reached out and pushed him aside. "I'm really not angry. I actually think this is fine. I'm busy. If you have nothing else to do, Mr. Brown, you can go find some more exciting games to play with Ms. Bennett."

Adrian had no intention of leaving. Instead, he softened his tone. "I know you're upset about what happened last night, and Yana provoked you again today. Of course you're unhappy. How about this? It's already lunchtime. I'll have lunch with you today, alright?"

Natalie refused him again. "I said no."

"What exactly do you want?"

Adrian had completely lost his patience and was about to snap when Yana walked over, looking pitiful. "I'm sorry, Ms. Harrington. I came to apologize. That video was sent to you by accident. I was just fooling around with Mr. Brown. I didn't mean to send it out."

Natalie was already exhausted from hearing this kind of performative innocence.

If this were before, she would have exposed her without mercy. Now, she barely reacted. "I accept your apology. I really need to get back to work. Please, do as you like."

Watching her walk away, Adrian's brows knitted tightly.

"Something is really wrong with Natalie." Adrian said.

"What's wrong? Isn't this how you wanted her to be?" Yana stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and said sweetly, "I'm hungry. I want you to take me out to eat."

Adrian pulled her hands away, his face cold. "Don't get this close to me at the office anymore. And without my permission, you're not allowed to enter the CEO's office again."

"Fine, I got it. You're really strange. Ms. Harrington gets angry and you're unhappy. She doesn't get angry and you're still unhappy. I really don't understand what men are thinking!" Yana replied.

Adrian didn't know either, but he strongly disliked Natalie's current attitude.

People said that when a woman stopped caring, it meant she no longer loved him.

Had she really stopped loving him?

It seemed he would have to seriously win her back.

That night, Adrian came home early, carrying a pile of gifts.

When he returned, Natalie was watching TV.

"Natalie, look at what I bought for you. They're all your favorite things…"

When Adrian brought the gifts over to her, she didn't even lift her head.

"Mm. Just put them there."

Her attitude set him off again. "Natalie, how long are you going to keep this up? Do you know how much I hate it when you act like this? If you have something to say, say it. Stop pretending you don't care!"

"Fine. Then I'll say it." Natalie looked up at him. "I don't need you to comfort me. I just want you to fire Yana and cut all ties with her. Can you do that?"

"Why do you have to be so extreme? Yana is still young, and she already said she wouldn't compete with you for the title of Mrs. Brown. Isn't that enough?" Adrian looked completely confused. "If that's still not enough, I'll fire her and keep her somewhere else. You won't have to see her again."