Chapter 181 Not Giving In 

As soon as Stephen mentioned Irwin’s return, a complex array of emotions flashed through Natalie’s mind. 

Up to this point, Stephen only knew that Cedric was the reason for his inability to enter Verde City. 

But as for Irwin’s side of the 

tor Stephen was unaware. 

Guilt welled up within her. 

“It seems like everything went smoothly on his end!” 

Natalie sighed in relief. 

Stephen remarked, “He’s youthful and bold!” 

The words held some ambiguous meaning, but Natalie sensed the urgency in Irwin’s situation. 

She remained silent. 

Stephen continued discussing work matters, offering insights into business strategies, all of which 

Natalie absorbed. 

After ending the call, the secretary entered and said, ‘Ms. Walker, Mr. Johnson is here!” 

Natalie had just relaxed, and she frowned at the news. 

Cedric entered, followed by Yuvan, holding a takeout box. 

“So soon?” 

Natalie was clearly caught off guard by Cedric’s swift arrival. After all, she only managed to get in two 

phone calls. 

Is the meeting over, or has it not started?” Cedric asked instead of answering her question. 

Natalie pursed her lips, unwilling to speak. Seeing her Irritated expression, Cedric chuckled with a hint of 

indulgence in his eyes that Yuvan noticed. 

After setting up the meal, Yuvan left. As the door closed, the look in Yuvan’s eyes changed. 

Now that only Natalie and Cedric were left in the room, Cedric walked over to her. 

He pulled her up from the chair and said, “Even if you’re busy, you need to eat, hmm?” 

one was unusually gentle 

This gentleness was something Natalie had experienced in a previous life. 

Unfortunately, everything had changed! 

And in place were the hurtful public opinion, cold remarks, Cedric’s doubts, and his ruthlessness. 

The food he brought was from a restaurant she used to enjoy. 

Natalie said indifferently, “You don’t need to do this.” 

For her, it was too late. 

Cedric sensed the emotions in her tone but failed to grasp the underlying message. 

“Irwin is coming back!” 

Natalie replied, “You’re well–informed!” 

“Don’t you want to avoid involving more people in our affairs?” 

Natalie looked at Cedric, the coldness in her eyes evident. She stared at him. His eyes appeared gentle 

and indulgent, yet the warning was clear. 

She certainly didn’t want that! 

“After the lesson you’ve taught me this time, I wouldn’t dare to stir up trouble in front of you again,” 

Natalie said, looking at Cedric with an intense gaze. 

He laughed. 

His features were elegant, and his smile was soothing to behold. Yet, this face and this smile had 

become the bane of her previous life. 

Natalie also smiled, but her smile differed from Cedric’s. 

“You are clever,” Cedric remarked. 

“What did you do to Regal Horizons? Why hasn’t my uncle completely resolved it until now?” She asked 

bluntly. 

The smile on Cedric’s face was wiped off. 

Before the end of today’s work, everything will be resolved. You don’t need to worry, hmm!” 

Natake was speechless. 

How shameless of him! 

It was as if Cedric had taught her a lesson this time. He wasn’t the Cedric everyone saw. 

There was so much more of him that no one knew! 

She had been the closest person by his side over the years. If she didn’t know, everyone else would be 

even more clueless. 

“Eat your vegetables!” 

Cedric’s expression darkened as he observed Natalie quietly eating her food. 

Natalie ate in a distracted manner. 

Seeing her demeanor, Cedric felt anger rising again. His phone vibrated, and it was a call from Christina. 

He answered, “Hello.” 

Christina’s voice on the other end sounded aggrieved, buzzing with complaints. Natalie couldn’t be 

bothered to pay attention. 

Cedric subconsciously looked at her. Five minutes later, he said, “Alright, I’ll handle this matter. Yeah.” 

After hanging up, Natalie finished eating and put down her utensils. 

“Did Tina also attend your press conference today?” Cedric asked. 

“I don’t know!” Natalie replied curtly. She had no interest in dealing with Christina’s provocations. 

Cedric’s expression darkened. 

“Control that temper of yours!” He grew more assertive. 

The current Cedric reminisced about the past Natalie. Back then, she never spoke in such a tone. What had pushed her to become the person she was now? 

“This is how I am. If you don’t like it, don’t look!” Natalie retorted, equally fiery. 

It didn’t take much guessing to know that Cedric had questioned her many times about Christina before. 

Christina, the most obedient daughter of the Johnson family! 

If Isabella was the first taboo Natalie had, then Christina was the second. Unfortunately, she and Cedric 

couldn’t avoid this person 

How annoying! 

Cedric’s temper flared. 

“It seems the lessons I’ve given you recently weren’t enough. Do you want more?” He approached, 

imprisoning her in his embrace. 

Natalie struggled, but Cedric’s grip tightened. 

“Don’t push me too far, or I’ll end the both of us!” Natalie warned. 

“Will you really?” Cedric questioned. 

“What do I have left to lose? I’ve died once; do I care about dying again?” 

They stared at each other silently for a moment. 

After her bold words, her face turned pale. Struggling to break free from the man’s hold, Cedric tightened 

his grip even more. 

“What do you mean by that, huh?” Cedric asked as he pinched her chin. 

What did she mean by dying once? 

She had been by his side all along, but was there something he didn’t know?! 

His eyes bore into her with sharp intensity, causing Natalie’s heart to tighten. 

“Cedric, let go of me!” 

“What do you mean by ‘I’ve died once‘? Huh?” 

“I told you to let go…!” 

“Natalie!” 

The air between them grew heavy. 

Natalie looked at the man before her. In his sharp gaze, she felt as if she could see the ruthlessness he 

had shown her in her previous life. 

“Speak!” 

Faced with Natalie’s persistent silence, his eyes filled with increasing resentment. 

Such resentment almost drove Cedric to madness. 

Looking at his elegant features, Natalie reached out with trembling hands. 

Back then, when her world was in darkness, she had relied on touch! 

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She had tried so hard to feel his emotions, but in the end, what she touched was his appalling brutality. 

“Natalie!” 

Seeing that she remained silent, the man’s tone grew colder. 

Faced with his icy demeanor, Natalie finally snapped back to reality. She looked at the man before her, 

her hand suspended in the air, and her eyes hardened. 

“Cedric, if I make the Johnson family bankrupt, would you kill me?” 

Cedric was silent. 

Bankrupt the Johnson family!? 

This woman had quite the audacity! 

“Answer mel‘ Natalie stared at him resolutely as she exclaimed in a determined voice. 

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