Chapter 112: You Are Stuck With Me Forever

At the crack of dawn, Natalie stirred awake, feeling anxious that it was already morning. Panic set in—she was late to see her grandpa, and she feared he had been taken away from her.

Justin, who was still holding her, sensed her movements and pulled her closer. "It’s not morning yet. Sleep!"

Natalie snuggled against him and drifted back to sleep.

When she finally woke up, she found herself alone in bed. Seeing the bright sunlight outside the window, she immediately jumped out, her thoughts racing to her grandpa.

Just then, Justin stepped out of the bathroom and noticed her panic. "He hasn’t been moved from the ICU yet. It’ll take another hour," Justin informed her before she could dash out of the room.

Natalie stopped at the door and turned to look at him. He was ready in new sets of clothes, looking all fresh and ready.

"You’d better freshen up before going out. The way you look right now might shock the weak-hearted people in the hospital. And don’t let your grandpa see you like this, or he’ll think I, you husband, bullied you the entire night."

Surprised by his comment, Natalie glanced at her reflection in the glass of the painting hanging next to the door. Though not a mirror, it gave her a clear hint of her current appearance.

Her hair was a tangled mess, as if a storm had passed through it. Her eyes were red and swollen, with faint shadows under them, and her face looked pale. She was no less than a ghost straight out of a horror movie.

"The bathroom is over here."

Justin’s words snapped her out of her shock. She avoided looking at him and hurried to the bathroom, passing by him as if he weren’t there.

Justin chuckled at her embarrassed state. "Don’t worry. Even if you look like a ghost, you make the prettiest one."

The bathroom door closed, and Natalie stared at herself in the mirror.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"What?" she asked.

"There are clothes and some essentials for you. You might want to take them unless you prefer changing in front of me," she heard him say.

she thought with a frown and walked over to the door. Opening it slightly, she only put her hand out. "Give it to me."

Justin handed her the bag, and she quickly closed the door again. Inside the bag were not just clothes but also daily necessities. After a quick shower, she pulled out the dress from the bag.

"Hmm?"

She examined it. She usually wore business formal clothing, which mostly included a top, trousers, and sometimes a jacket. But what she had here was an off-white, knee-length one-piece made of rich material. She could tell it was an expensive dress without even checking the brand.

Regardless, she put it on and was surprised at how well it fit her.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

When she came out of the bathroom, fully dressed and no longer looking like a ghost but like a rich noble lady, she caught Justin’s attention. He was on the phone, but his gaze was locked on her, and for a moment, he seemed to forget what he was saying on the call.

The off-white dress fit her perfectly, highlighting her gentle curves in an elegant way. The color made her skin glow even more, and her slender legs, visible below her knees, looked delicate and graceful, making him wonder how they look entirely exposed.

He gulped at the thought of it.

He couldn’t deny she looked stunning like this—unlike her usual boring attire she preferred. But at the same time he felt relived that she didn’t fancy dressing up and won’t catch other men’s attention, or he might go end up developing a new hobby of pulling out a pair of eyes out of their sockets.

Natalie looked at him, feeling wary, and touched her face. "Is there something wrong?"

Justin snapped back to his senses and hung up the call without finishing the conversation.

"I’m going to see Grandpa," she informed him.

"There’s still time. I’ll be notified beforehand when they move Mr. Ford to his room," Justin said as he walked over to the small coffee table in the room. "Come have breakfast."

"I’m not really hungry."

"I know, but you’ll need energy to deal with your family members later," Justin said, settling into a chair. "I’m just worried that with the empty stomach you might go berserk and end up murdering someone."

Natalie frowned at his comment but went to the breakfast table anyway. She looked at the spread and could tell it had been specially prepared, not just some random takeout order.

Once breakfast was over, before leaving, Natalie asked, "By the way, what did you say to Grandpa to convince him to go through with the surgery?"

"I told him I’m Justin Harper and that Aiden Hendrix is my other identity," he replied coolly. But Natalie had the opposite reaction.

"What?" Her eyes widened, anger flaring in them. "Are you crazy? He could tolerate being deceived once, but the next time..."

"That was the only way to get him to agree to the surgery," Justin interrupted. "That was the priority."

Natalie gritted her teeth. "I thought you would solve everything, but you... you just made it more complicated."

"Nothing is complicated," Justin assured her. "There won’t be any other Aiden Hendrix besides me."

"What are you planning?" she asked, an uneasy feeling settling over her.

He gazed into her angry eyes, entirely calm and composed. "You don’t have to worry. Just know that I’m Aiden Hendrix, and you’re going to stick with me forever."

"What do you mean?" she demanded, suspicion lacing her tone.

"I just received a message that Mr. Ford has been transferred to his room. Are you sure you want to stay here and discuss this more?"

She frowned and marched toward the door. "This man... he just made my life even more difficult."

Justin smirked playfully and followed her.

As expected, the Fords were already there, waiting to visit Albert once he was comfortably settled in his room.

Everyone was surprised to see the change in Natalie—the way she dressed, the way she carried herself.

Sephina frowned as it reminded her of Caryn, someone she clearly despised. This new version of Natalie exuded the same arrogance as her mother, trying to stand out wherever she went.

Briena and Clara shot her disdainful glares, while Jay was lost staring at her, as if seeing Caryn all over again.

It reminded him of the first time he saw Caryn at one of the corporate meetings. She was the same—beautiful and confident, attracting the attention of every man in the room. Back then, he felt fortunate that out of so many men, she chose him, making him feel special, like he was better than everyone else. But...

Clara noticed his expression and sneered, "Still reminiscing about the woman who never valued you?"

Jay quickly averted his gaze, but defended himself, "She’s my daughter. What’s wrong with looking at my own daughter?"

Clara clenched her teeth, knowing full well that he was recalling Caryn. Natalie looked almost exactly like her mother. No matter how much Clara tried to make Jay hate Caryn, that woman still lingered in his heart, and it always angered her.

Caryn was the reason that unlike others, Jay was less hostile towards Natalie. In fact, till her wedding day, Jay never clearly showed his anger to Natalie and always remained impassive.

Just when the family members were allowed to enter Albert’s room, and Natalie walked ahead, Sephina growled, "You’re not coming in with us. Only family members are allowed to visit. You’re no longer a Ford, but..." She turned her gaze to Justin, "...a Hendrix now."

Justin put his arm around Natalie’s shoulders protectively, his deep voice resonating through the hall.

"And who’s going to stop my wife?"

Sephina looked ahead as four tall and well-built bodyguards arrived and positioned themselves outside the door, making it clear they were there to stop Natalie from entering the room.

Last time Natalie managed to down the bodyguards at the Ford residence. so this time they had especially arranged the well trained one, who Natalie wouldn’t be able to beat single handedly.

Moreover, Sephina knew Natalie would not be violent where her grandfather was present.

"Got your answer?" Sephina asked.

Clara and Briena sneered, feeling triumphant and in control, while Jay remained impassive, his thoughts still caught up with memories of Caryn.

Justin lowered his gaze to look at Natalie, his voice soft, almost as if he were speaking to a child. "Did that scare you?"

Natalie shook her head. She wasn’t scared—just saddened by her grandmother’s efforts to keep her away from Albert.

"I don’t want you to get hurt. Let’s step back a little." Justin gently pulled her a few steps back and turned her in his arms so she faced him. "Don’t look."

Confused, Natalie furrowed her brow, but the next moment, she heard a series of noises.

By the time, Natalie turned around, she saw all four bodyguards sprawled on the ground. John stood there alone, smirking at the fallen men, having taken them down with a single but decisive move.

"Anyone else dare to stop my wife?" Justin asked, his voice calm yet menacing.

No one uttered a word.

"Let’s go." He held Natalie’s hand and confidently strode forward into Albert’s room. As they passed, he instructed, "John, make sure no one enters the room until my wife is done talking to her grandpa."

"Yes, Sir," John replied.

The Fords were left speechless, stunned by what had just transpired.