From Divorce To Dominance

9

Natalie's movements were playful and nonchalant, prompting Darren to angrily pull his chin away from her touch. Natalie didn't seem fazed at all; instead, she batted her mesmerizing eyes, her allure as playful as it was enticing.

Darren averted his gaze, fidgeting nervously with his fingers. But the thought of her manipulating him made his blood boil. Clenching his teeth, he snapped, "It's been a while since we last met, and you've really shown your colors. I underestimated you today, and I'm definitely looking forward to our next round, Ms. Xavier."

With a radiant smile, Natalie replied, "Thanks for the compliment, Mr. Luther! Now that we're all squared away, I'm going to head out."

'Why can't she just talk normally? Why did she have to use that flirty tone? Does she think I am one of those guys who could be easily swayed?' Darren seethed inwardly.

"Bye, Mr. Luther." She waved her delicate hand at him, and as she turned, Arthur quickly stepped forward to assist her.

Leaning on his support, Natalie stood up confidently, her posture proud and regal, strutting out like a queen in her element.

This was a side of her that Darren had never seen before. It was fresh and captivating, drawing his gaze without effort. His eyes followed her graceful figure, his throat itching with a feeling he didn't want to confront. Realizing his reaction, he quickly turned away, feeling frustrated.

In an instant, the room that had been bustling felt empty with Natalie's departure, a heavy silence left in her wake.

The moment the door shut, Darren, in a fit of rage, grabbed the nearest object and hurled it against the wall.

Tony rushed in from outside, still trying to grasp what had just happened. He had been pinned down by the bodyguards and couldn't break free. Normally, Tony could handle himself, but those guards had completely restrained him.

Tony's face turned sour as he surveyed the chaotic scene. He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Mr. Luther, I... I just-

"Look into Natalie," Darren cut him off, his lips pressed into a tight line. "And that guy who was with her just now."

He couldn't shake the memory of their intimate gestures. The way they interacted felt too genuine to have developed in just a few months. He guessed, 'Has she already gotten close to that guy before our divorce?' As the thought crossed his mind, Darren clenched his fists. If Natalie dared to betray him, he would definitely make her pay.

"Get on it!" Darren urged again, his voice low but urgent. "I want answers-fast!"

His curiosity about Natalie, now that they had reunited, was overwhelming. Natalie had changed completely-from her style and makeup to her demeanor. She was no longer the obedient and dull girl he used to know; she had become sharp-tongued and quick-witted. Not to mention, he noticed that everyone around her, from bodyguards to doctors, were top-notch professionals. In his eyes, Natalie was just some country girl from the mountains. There was no way that all these elite people were willing to work for her.

Just then, the melodic ring of a phone broke the silence in the room. Darren glanced at the screen; it flashed "Grandpa." His eyebrows raised involuntarily. It was his grandfather who had pushed for his marriage with Natalie in the first place. If he wanted to know about Natalie, he thought he could just ask his grandpa.

With that thought, he answered the call. "Grandpa?"This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"Come home. I have something to discuss with you."

"Okay."

The call ended abruptly.

Darren knew his grandfather was still upset about the divorce, but he didn't regret ending things with Natalie.

*****

At the hospital entrance, a long Lincoln limousine pulled up. Arthur helped Natalic into the car, his hand on her waist to guide her safely inside. Once settled, Natalie became engrossed in her phone, scrolling through trending topics. Her long lashes cast shadows, hiding her true emotions. Arthur took off his glasses and rubbed his temples, leaning back in his scat. He squinted at her and asked, "What's the game plan?"

Natalie looked up with a slight smile. "Have they tracked who started that thread?"

Arthur didn't answer directly; instead, he let out a dismissive scoff. "Take a wild guess.

"Is that even a guess?" Natalie grinned wider. "It's definitely my ex-husband. Only he would have the time and pettiness for something like this."

"LOL!" Arthur chuckled, his refined demeanor cracking to show a wide, mischievous grin. "Spot-on. So, what's your next move?"

Natalie turned off her tablet and raised an eyebrow, looking relaxed. "Let him enjoy it for a bit. We'll address it in a few days." "Are you really just going to let those commenters tear you apart?" Arthur asked, his sharp eyes filled with concern. "What's the big deal? A few insults here and there?" Natalie blinked innocently. "It's way more interesting than those dull twenty years I spent before, right?"

Arthur fell silent, struggling to find a reply. This was classic Natalie-always lost in her own world, saying things that were too clever for her own good.

From the moment Natalie was born, she was a prodigy. By five, her abilities were already shining. For her, nothing seemed too tough; she learned things easily and often impressed everyone with her breakthroughs.

Elite figures from all walks of life chased after her, eager to mentor her and share their knowledge. But she had no patience for anything uninteresting; if people didn't flatter her, she wasn't going to learn.

As a result, the years leading up to her eighteenth birthday were filled with praise. She became numb to compliments from top professionals worldwide, and now reading negative comments online was much more entertaining for her.

If any of her mentors heard her say that, they would probably be furious. Just as Arthur mentally rolled his eyes, he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. He snapped back to reality and found Natalie's delicate face just inches away. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"Hey, Arthur! Can you help me film a video?" She flashed an adorable smile and handed him the already-set-up camera. "Are we rolling yet?"

Arthur pressed the record button and gave her an "OK" sign.

In the frame, Natalie tilted her head slightly, her long hair dancing in the night breeze. The world outside was blurred by them. Suddenly, she turned her face toward the camera, her expression playful and innocent. Her bright eyes showed a mix of confusion and sincerity, and beneath her perfectly shaped nose, her full lips parted slightly.

The shifting light and shadows danced across her face as she paused for a moment-one second, two seconds-and then she

playfully winked at the camera, breaking into a captivating smile.

Even Arthur, who was used to her beauty, felt his heart skip a beat.

Oblivious to his reaction, Natalie took the camera back after finishing the shoot. She fiddled with it for a moment, added a catchy background track, and then uploaded it to TikTok.

Arthur was confused. "You're just going to ignore that trending post and still post this video?"

"This isn't just any video," she said with a triumphant grin. "I'm about to go viral! Just wait and see."