Chapter 61 I'm just a bad woman who bullies others

As Hallie stopped talking, Nathaniel's face didn't get any lighter; it grew even more somber. Felix shook his head too.

The camera was blocked, showing nothing, and the only thing audible was Celeste's cry of pain. Hallie now ranting seemed like a joke.

"Mr. Ford, Celeste is a liar; she did it on purpose..."

"Enough!" Nathaniel finally barked, out of patience.

He glanced at the two women—Hallie looking bitter, Celeste appearing deeply wronged.

Nathaniel sighed deeply and said firmly, "Miss Stewart, I'll drive you home."

"Drive her?" Celeste was startled, finally looking up, her face pale, "Mr. Ford, don't you believe me?"

"I..." Nathaniel's eyes shifted, noticing a tear on the girl's cheek, and his heart momentarily tightened.

He couldn't finish his sentence because, truthfully, he didn't believe her.

At least for now, with Hallie's pale, upset face, they needed a doctor to know for sure.

But Celeste felt immediately aggrieved.

"Fine, then take her home, Mr. Ford. After all, someone like me, who's supposedly violent, can go home on her own!"

She rubbed her sore eyes, unwilling to admit how much Nathaniel's doubt had hurt her.

She was furious that he seemed to be siding with Hallie!

"Just go," Nathaniel's gaze dropped quietly over Celeste's face, noting her anger and dissatisfaction, her pouting in frustration, deeply disappointed with him.

This realization brought a sudden uncomfortable surge of emotion in Nathaniel.

He forcefully turned his face away, "Felix, arrange for someone to take Mrs. Ford home."

"Yes."

"I don't need an escort, I can find my way," Celeste said coldly, and she walked ahead, not giving Nathaniel another glance.

If he wants to doubt me, let him!

If a man's trust is so easily shaken, she doesn't need him!

…

"She's really upset." Nathaniel watched distantly as she walked to her car, her figure solitary and cold, clearly not wanting to even look at him.

Nathaniel's gaze hardened, his eyes filled with an unspoken complexity.

Shortly, Harvey led the doctor in, and they quickly took Hallie to a rest area for a check-up.

"After the examination, there's indeed no physical trauma. We can't dismiss the possibility that Miss Stewart is faking," they discussed quietly outside.

Nathaniel's face was serious, his brows shadowed by the smoke, lost in thought.

"So, you're saying Mrs. Ford didn't harm her?"

"Not necessarily. She can barely stand. It could be internal damage. Some people are skilled enough to inflict harm without leaving any visible marks..."

"If she's Scarlett, that would make sense!"

"Scarlett is still on the run; it's unlikely she'd show up here," Harvey and Felix analyzed but ended up just as confused, eventually both looking towards Nathaniel.

He finally stubbed out his cigarette and asked softly, "Does Miss Stewart have any real injuries? Any lasting effects?"

"No, she's fine. It looks more like someone just wanted to teach her a lesson."

Nathaniel suddenly burst into laughter.

He waved his hand, signaling everyone could leave. "All's well then, everyone heads on back home."

Felix and Harvey exchanged puzzled looks at his sudden change in demeanor but quickly caught up with him.

"Mr. Ford, you're not suspicious of Mrs. Ford anymore?"

"No. Actually, I'm more convinced now than ever—she's really quite something."

Hallie, just an ordinary person, couldn't pull off such an act. Her injuries and pain are real.

"So..."

What's with the laughter? And why the rush to get home?"

Nathaniel's voice was gentle, carrying a lightness that hadn't been there in days. "Celeste did hurt Hallie, yes, but even with their history of bad blood, she didn't do serious harm. Just a little lesson to teach her a point. That alone proves she isn't someone who would hurt others without a very good reason."

Obviously, she's not the type to indiscriminately inflict pain or act like some cold-blooded villain.

Felix hesitated for a moment.

"You know, that does make sense! Everyone here has only had good things to say about Mrs. Ford since she joined us. But..." Felix paused, a thought striking him, "Mrs. Ford stormed out earlier, Mr. Ford, maybe you should head back and smooth things over."

The memory of her earlier fury instantly wiped the smile off Nathaniel's face.

Celeste, usually so gentle, has a stubborn streak a mile wide. Once she's really upset, she's not easy to calm down.

…

He made his way home in the cloak of night.

Even before he entered, the butler's troubled expression was a giveaway.

"When Mrs. Ford came home, her eyes were red. She wouldn't talk about what happened, skipped dinner, and just shut herself in her room."

"I'll go check on her."

As the night deepened, Nathaniel's steps were steady as he slowly opened the bedroom door.

There, under the soft light, was Celeste curled up in a ball.

She looked up, her eyes—usually bright and cheerful—now red and filled with tears.

"Why even come back? Weren't you off rekindling things with an old flame? Just stay with her then, because, because I'm just a bad woman who bullies others."

She had been crying on purpose for a long time, just waiting for this moment when Nathaniel would return.

She was really angry earlier, but for the sake of a long-term plan, she needed to make Nathaniel feel guilty and clear any doubts he had.

As expected.

The moment Nathaniel walked in, his expression changed. He moved closer, his concern evident.

His rough fingertips gently wiped her tears away.

"Don't be ridiculous, that's not true."

His voice was hoarse, filled with urgency as he tried to comfort her, watching her sobbing grow heavier. He seemed almost out of his depth.