"Alice's voice thundered through the room, her question laced with venom, "Why weren't you wearing a mask?" She harbored a deep-seated resentment for Natalie, a disdain that stemmed from the uncanny resemblance the lowly maid bore to her. Alice harbored a secret wish, a violent desire to mar Natalie's face beyond recognition.
Natalie, in response, bit her lip, her hands clenched into trembling fists. Eventually, she forced herself to relax, to let go of the tension. She was grateful that her secret was still safe, for if it had been discovered, she and Rosalie would have been cast out of the Cullen Villa. Without the villa, Rosalie's illness would remain untreated, a prospect Natalie couldn't bear to contemplate.
Alice spat out a chilling threat, her voice dripping with malice, "Next time I see you, believe me, I will take a knife and scratch up your pretty little face!" The thought of Natalie, a mere maid, possessing a complexion more refined than hers, despite her daily regimen of expensive skincare products, was a bitter pill to swallow. To add insult to injury, the woman Adrian had been with that night was none other than Natalie. This infuriating girl was nothing but a thorn in her side!
Alice's gaze bore into Natalie, her eyes swirling with a hatred as deadly as venomous snakes poised to strike. The shrill ring of a cellphone interrupted the tense standoff. Alice glanced at the caller ID, her hardened expression softening instantly. She answered the call, her voice gentle as she turned to ascend the stairs, "Adrian, yeah, I'm still up..."
With Alice's departure, Natalie finally allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief. She retreated to the sanctuary of her own home, grateful for the timely interruption. Adrian's call had inadvertently saved her from Alice's violent threat.
As Natalie tried to calm her frayed nerves, the shrill ring of an old cell phone shattered the silence. It was Bella Swan, Natalie's good friend, on the other end.
"Natalie, why did it take you so long to answer? I've been calling you for a while."
Natalie took a moment to steady her breath before replying in a soft voice, "Sorry, I didn't hear it. It's pretty late; is there something you need?"
Bella's voice was filled with excitement as she replied, "It's your birthday the day after tomorrow! Let's skip class and go out to have fun. It's only once a year, and my Natalie deserves to have a happy birthday!"
A small smile tugged at Natalie's lips. She had been so consumed with caring for Rosalie that she had completely forgotten about her own birthday. Bella's reminder was a pleasant surprise.
"Bella, thank you."
Bella's response was light-hearted, "No worries. I've prepared a gift for you. Don't get too emotional now!"
A gift? The thought warmed Natalie's heart. In this world, apart from Rosalie, only Bella cared enough to celebrate her birthday.
After a brief conversation with Bella, Natalie ended the call. She opened her purse to find a diamond pendant nestled inside. The unexpected discovery left her stunned.
The diamond pendant was exquisite, its cloud pattern lending it an understated yet luxurious appeal.
When had Bella managed to slip it into her purse? Natalie hadn't noticed at all.
After a moment's hesitation, Natalie sent Bella a message: "I saw the gift. I love it. Thank you, Bella."
After ending the call, Natalie carefully placed the pendant around her neck. Although she wasn't well-versed in jewelry, she could tell that the diamond was of superior quality.
It must have been expensive, she mused.
After a moment's consideration, she tucked the pendant inside her clothing, a decision that made her feel more secure.
The cool touch of the pendant against her skin was comforting.
She really liked it...
The following day, after her morning classes at Ardentia University, Natalie hurried towards the campus exit.
The Howard family was due to visit at noon. Renee had sternly warned Natalie the previous night that she couldn't afford to be late; otherwise, she and Rosalie would face eviction from the Cullen family.
As she sprinted through the school gates, a red sports car screeched to a halt beside her.