Elizabeth seemed guilty when she saw Natalie and explained, âJorge is doing much better now. He even brought me to work.â Jorge scratched the back of his head and smiled apologetically at Natalie. âIâm sorry. I was in a bad mood due to my withdrawals. And as for what happened with Elizabeth, I sincerely apologized to her. I wonât lose control again, and I will definitely appreciate her from now on.â
Jorgeâs words sounded sincere, but Natalieâs instincts told her not to trust him completely. She nodded coldly and entered the study, leaving Jorge behind. After saying goodbye to Jorge, Elizabeth hurried to catch up with Natalie. She explained that she wanted to give Jorge another chance because they had a good conversation, and he promised never to hurt her again.
Natalieâs heart sank, knowing that it was unlikely for domestic abuse to stop once it started. Jorgeâs promise didnât seem reliable. Natalie couldnât understand how someone as insightful in her career as Elizabeth could be so weak and hesitant in love, staying in such a toxic relationship. âDo what you think is right. Only you know where it hurts. I can give you my opinion, but ultimately, itâs your choice and your life,â Natalie advised Elizabeth meaningfully before heading to the tea room for some water.
As Natalie absentmindedly listened to the water pouring from the dispenser, her mind wandered to what she had seen on her laptop the previous day.
Unaware of her surroundings, she didnât notice that her glass was almost full. Suddenly, she heard a soft warning. Startled, Natalie turned around to find Draco standing behind her. Draco frowned and took the cup from Natalieâs hands just in time. It was then that Natalie realized what had happened.
âMr. Wesley, are you all right?â Natalie asked with concern, quickly apologizing to Draco and checking his hand for any signs of scalding.
Draco waved dismissively and placed the glass on the table. âIâm fine, but what about you? You seemed quite distracted just now,â he remarked, looking at her intently.
Natalie averted her gaze and replied, âIâm sorry. My mind was somewhere else...â
Dracoâs kind eyes studied her face. âWhatâs going on? Are you under stress?â he inquired, sensing that something was bothering her.
Natalie shook her head, offering a slight smile, but it was evident that he hadnât fully grasped the situation. His eyes appeared distant as he murmured, âNo... What I saw on your laptop last night was so strange, it genuinely frightened me.â
Realizing that he didnât wish to discuss it further, Natalie decided not to p**ss him. She trusted that if it was something truly troubling, Draco would confide in her when he was ready.
âAre you free this afternoon? We have a new colleague joining us,â Draco changed the subject, hoping to lighten the mood.
Natalieâs eyes lit up at the prospect of meeting a new designer. âDo we finally have a new addition to the team? Ever since Rosa left, itâs been just you, Elizabeth, and me handling the designs,â she exclaimed.
Draco chuckled softly. âWell, Dolores isnât exactly a newcomer. She used to work here before and has now returned. Youâll meet her this afternoon,â
he explained, satisfied that Natalie seemed more at ease.
With that, Draco retreated to his office, leaving Natalie to eagerly anticipate the arrival of their new colleague.
As expected, later that afternoon, Dolores entered the studio. Unlike the typically slender designers, Dolores had a slightly chubby figure. She wasnât particularly tall, and her curly hair cascaded down to her shoulders. Her warm demeanor made her approachable, as she greeted everyone in the studio as if they were old friends.
Natalie introduced herself briefly, while Elizabeth remained silent, not even bothering to acknowledge Doloresâ presence. Natalie found this behavior peculiar and soon realized that everyone seemed to have a good rapport with Dolores, except for Elizabeth.
During their private lunch hour, Natalie couldnât help but ask Elizabeth about the situation bet**en her and Dalores. After a brief silence, Elizabeth sighed and responded, âNo, nothing happened. We were never really friends or anything like that. You see, Mr. Wesley had trained her for two years, and then he felt she was capable enough to work independently as a designer. However, her career didnât gain much momentum in recent years, so she asked if she could come back to work here. The studio needed an extra hand, so Mr. Wesley agreed.â
Natalie sensed that there might be more to the story, but Elizabethâs tone made it clear that she wasnât pleased with the situation. Natalie had always liked Dalores and hoped to learn more about what had transpired bet**en them over time. Meanwhile, the workload in the studio had been piling up, even with Daloresâ return. Draco, the renowned figure behind w Marks Studio, insisted they needed one more assistant and assigned Dalores and Natalie to conduct interviews.
The announcement of the job opening attracted a long line of eager applicants within days. Natalie initially hesitated to participate in the interviews, feeling less qualified compared to Dalores. However, Draco assured her, saying, âYou are more than capable of handling this, Natalie. I believe you will be a great help to the new assistant.â With a crooked smile, Natalie thanked Draco for his recognition, but deep down, she still felt uneasy.
The following day, after lunch, Dalores approached Natalieâs desk to strike up a conversation. However, she completely ignored Elizabeth, who maintained a serious exp**ssion and remained silent. Natalieâs curiosity got the better of her, and she couldnât resist asking Elizabeth once again, this time in a hushed voice, âWhat happened bet**en you two?â
âExcuse me,â Elizabeth interjected hastily, wanting to add something, but Dolores interrupted her.
Dolores approached Natalie with a cheerful tone, saying, âHey, Natalie! Mind if I sit next to you? Iâd love to chat.â
Natalie smiled awkwardly, realizing there was no polite way to reject Dolores. She reluctantly nodded, and Dolores took a seat beside her, striking up a conversation.
The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband ï¤Chatper 413 The Return Of His Unrivaled Ex-Wife (Joanna)
ï¤Chapter 1329 Meet My Brothers by Red Thirteen ï¤Chapter 1187 âIâve seen your work before, Natalie. Youâre incredibly talented. Iâm sure you could become a successful freelance designer in the future. Your family would support you, especially considering the White familyâs connections in the fashion industry. With your talent and their support, you have a bright future ahead,â Dolores flattered.