Chapter 2
1472 Words
"Ms. Clark, there's a man causing trouble at the company entrance. He's beaten up several of the security guards!"
A secretary burst into Natalie's office, her face pale with panic.
Natalie frowned slightly. "Calm down. What's going on? Tell me everything."
The secretary took a deep breath before replying, "It's a man named Daniel. He's demanding to see you. When the security guards tried to stop him, he started a fight."
Natalie's heart skipped a beat. "Daniel? I see. You can go now," she said.
The secretary nodded and quickly left.
Natalie stood and walked to the window, her gaze falling on the commotion below. Her mind whirled with questions she couldn't ignore.
"Why is Daniel being so reckless? Has prison really changed him after all these years?" she murmured.
Memories of their past flooded back, filling her with a mix of guilt and confusion.
"Well, no matter what, I have to talk to him."
Taking a deep breath, Natalie returned to her desk. "Let him in."
"Ms. Clark, are you sure?"
The secretary was startled, afraid that this "madman" would hurt Natalie.
"I said, let him in!"
Natalie shot her a pointed look.
"Yes, Ms. Clark!" The secretary quickly left to carry out her order.
Moments later, Daniel was brought into the office.
Daniel strode in, his gaze locked on Natalie, his eyes dark with emotions she couldn't quite read.
Natalie met his stare. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air was thick with tension.
Finally, Natalie broke the silence. "Daniel. It's been a long time."
Daniel let out a cold laugh. "Yeah, it has. I never imagined our reunion would look like this."
Natalie sighed softly. "Sit down. Let's talk."
But Daniel didn't move. His voice was sharp as he said, "What's there to talk about? Don't you already know what your family has done to me?"
A flicker of guilt crossed Natalie's face. "I know. And I admit it was the Clark family's fault. We owe you an apology."
Daniel's anger flared. "An apology? That's all you've got? Who's going to give me back the three years I lost in prison?"
Natalie bit her lip. "I'll make it up to you, Daniel. I promise."
He sneered, his voice dripping with bitterness. "Make it up to me? How? Can you give me back those years? Can you erase the pain I went through?"
Natalie lowered her head. "No. But I'll do everything I can to make amends."
For a moment, Daniel just stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, with a reluctant sigh, he sat down.
"Here's three million. Take it."
Natalie grabbed her checkbook, quickly scribbled out a number, and handed it to him.
Daniel didn't even glance at the check.
"I have one question," he said. "Was the divorce your idea or your mother's?"
"It's mine," Natalie answered without hesitation.
"Daniel, everyone believes you're a convicted r*pist now. If people found out I had a husband like that, it would ruin my life. If you ever cared about me, sign the papers. It's over between us."
Daniel slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, his voice shaking with anger. "Natalie, how could you be so heartless?"
Natalie flinched at his outburst but quickly steadied herself, forcing her face to remain calm.
"Daniel, this is our destiny. You have to accept it, whether you want to or not."
"Our destiny? Is that what you're calling this? What about the last three years I gave to your family? What about everything I sacrificed for you?"
His voice cracked as his bloodshot eyes bore into hers.
She turned her head away, refusing to meet his gaze. "That's all in the past now. There's no point in bringing it up."
"You are a ruthless woman, Natalie."
Daniel let out a bitter laugh, never thinking he'd see this side of Natalie.
Natalie took a deep breath. "Daniel, you need to move on. Take the money and start over. Three million dollars for three years—most people would call that a generous deal."
Daniel snatched the check from the table and threw it in her face.
"Do you think money is everything? I don't want your money. I want justice!"
"Justice? It doesn't exist in a world like this."
Natalie thought he was dissatisfied with the amount, so she grabbed a pen and quickly wrote another check, this time for five million dollars.
"Here. Five million. That should be enough for you to find someone else. Stop pestering me, Daniel. It's over."
Daniel stared at her, his anger boiling over into a hollow, bitter laugh. "Five million? Is that what I'm worth to you, Natalie? You're not the woman I thought you were, Natalie. You're a stranger to me now."
Natalie's face paled, but she stood her ground. "Don't make this harder than it has to be, Daniel. This is the best I can do for you."
Daniel's hand trembled as he pointed at her. "You'll regret this, Natalie. One day, you'll regret every single thing you've done today."
Natalie bit her lip. "I won't regret it. This is the right choice for both of us."
Daniel stared at her one last time. Then, he turned and stormed toward the door.
"Natalie, remember, I don't need your pity. I'll show you that I'm not someone you can just toss aside!"
At the threshold, Daniel stopped, his back still to her.
"From now on, we're strangers to each other."
With that, he slammed the door behind him.
Natalie stood frozen, staring at the tightly closed door. Her legs gave out, and she sank into the chair, tears streaming down her face. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "I'm sorry, Daniel, but I had no choice. I can't stay with you. If people know my husband is a r*pist, it'll tarnish the reputation of my family and the company."
Daniel had just stepped out of the office when Natalie's words hit him like a slap. He froze, anger and pain surging through him in an instant.
Without thinking, he spun around, stormed back into the office, and confronted her.
"Natalie," he shouted, his voice sharp and furious, "do you still think I'm a r*pist? If it weren't for me, your brother would've been the one rotting in prison!"
Natalie's face went pale, her eyes wide with shock at his sudden return. "I... I..." she stammered.
Daniel's eyes burned red with fury. "What excuse do you have this time? You're nothing but a selfish woman, Natalie. All you care about is your reputation and your precious company. The truth and my feelings mean nothing to you!"
Natalie's head dropped as tears spilled down her cheeks. "Daniel, I... I have my reasons..."
"Reasons?" Daniel cut her off with a cold sneer. "Your 'reasons' are abandoning me and slandering me, huh? Fine, Natalie. From this moment on, we're enemies."
He didn't wait for her reply. Turning sharply, he walked out, leaving Natalie crying helplessly in the office.
As Daniel reached the company lobby, a young man stepped into his path.
His face was twisted with anger, and he gripped a wooden stick tightly in his hand.
"Daniel, stop right there! My sister divorcing you was already doing you a favor, and now you dare to hit my mother? Today, I'll teach you a lesson! The Clark family isn't something you can mess with."
"Ethan?"
Daniel's lips curled into a mocking smile. He locked eyes with the man, his gaze icy and unflinching. "You've got some nerve showing your face in front of me."
Ethan flinched under Daniel's glare. But knowing Daniel was no more than a r*pist, he quickly puffed out his chest, trying to look tough.
"Don't act so high and mighty, Daniel. The Clark family is way out of your league."
"Out of my league? If it weren't for me, do you think you'd even have the chance to stand here?"
Daniel took a step forward, his presence overwhelming.
Ethan's grip on the stick tightened. "So what? You're just a loser, a r*pist the Clark family abandoned."
Daniel glared at him. "A loser? A r*pist? Your family is nothing but a pack of ingrates. One day, you'll pay for everything you've done."
"Shut up!" Ethan roared, raising the stick and swinging it at Daniel.
Daniel sidestepped the blow with ease. He grabbed Ethan's wrist mid-swing and twisted it hard.
"You think you're in any position to teach me a lesson?" Daniel growled.
Ethan cried out in pain, his face contorted. "Let me go, Daniel!"
"Let you go? Did you feel even a shred of guilt when I took the fall for you back then?"
Daniel tightened his grip.
Ethan's face turned ashen. "I... I..."
Slap!
Daniel's hand struck Ethan's face with a resounding crack, sending him sprawling to the floor.
- Writer
