Chapter 164: Not Ready For Another Heartbreak

Natalie stayed frozen, unsure how to reciprocate the passion he was showing. The kiss was fine, but beyond that...

Her mind wandered, overwhelmed by questions.

Once his lookalike is found, he will leave. I can’t let myself get too attached.

The thought of being abandoned again was unbearable.

Justin sensed the subtle shift in her expression, catching that fleeting moment, realising she was not on the same page as him at this moment.

He pulled back slightly and asked, "What are you thinking about?" His eyes searched hers.

Before Natalie could respond, the soup on the stove boiled over, the sound abruptly breaking their connection.

She started to move, but Justin was quicker. He turned off the gas before she could react.

She hopped down from the kitchen counter, grabbed a cleaning cloth, and said, "I’ll clean this up and finish cooking. You can wait in the drawing room."

Justin watched her as she began wiping up the spilled soup, fully aware of the shift in her mood. He gently took hold of her hand to stop her.

"Let it be," he said softly.

She looked at him, regaining some composure. "Don’t you want dinner?"

"Let’s eat out," he suggested, releasing her hand.

"It’s already late, and we’d have to drive to a restaurant," she replied, her reluctance clear. "I don’t want to leave now that I’m finally home."

He gently took the cleaning cloth from her hand, set it aside, and guided her to the kitchen sink to wash her hands. "We’re going somewhere close for some simple, tasty food," he said.

His movements smooth as if he could make her do whatever he wanted. Though he wished to ask what’s wrong with her, seeing acting normal, he decided to leave it for later.

As Natalie washed her hands, she asked, "Will an ordinary place suit Mr. CEO?"

Justin joined her at the sink, rinsing his hands. "When the company’s just right, every place suits me."

Natalie thought, feeling a bit lighter.

He dried his hands and turned toward the kitchen exit "Let’s go."

Relieved that the tension had lifted, Natalie followed him.

Justin slipped into a pair of casual slippers and opened the apartment door.

She did the same, pausing. "Let me grab the car keys."

"No need," he said casually.

Surprised, Natalie gave him a curious look. Justin smirked and added, "Let them see me for what I am—just your poor gigolo husband."

She blinked, stunned, as the realization hit. "Are we being watched?"

"You’re a sensation in every news outlet. What do you think?" Justin replied, stepping outside without hesitation.

Natalie locked the door behind them and followed him. "What if they take pictures of you with me?"

"They’d be lucky to catch a shot of my perfect back profile. Most people don’t even get to see my shadow."

She chuckled as they waited for the elevator. "You really are a narcissist."

"Highly self-aware, I’d say."

Natalie could only nod. This man was the king of narcissism.

When they reached the ground floor, Ryan approached them.

"We’re staying close by. No need to follow us," Justin instructed. "Just hand me a cap from the car."

Ryan nodded and soon brought over a black cap, which Justin slipped on effortlessly.

Natalie realized it was to provide a cover to his face, though she wondered if it could truly make any difference.

She noticed, even in casual attire—a simple half-sleeved t-shirt, pants, slippers, and now the cap—he still looked striking. There was just something about him that made him stand out, no matter what he wore. She was convinced that even if he wrapped himself in a burlap sack, he’d still manage to look handsome.

"If you keep looking at me like that," Justin said, catching her in her daze, "I might think what happened in the kitchen wasn’t enough for you."

Natalie snapped her gaze away, her cheeks instantly warming.

But at the same time, an image of him in burlap sack almost made her smile.

Justin chuckled and caught up to her, held her hand, intertwining their fingers intimately.

She glanced at their hands, but before she could speak, he lifted them slightly into view and said, "This will give you a good image—being seen hand-in-hand with your husband, all romantic."

Natalie allowed him to hold her hand as they stepped through the main security gate. Justin was already aware of the spies tailing them, and it didn’t take long for Natalie to notice them too.

They made their way to a small, unassuming restaurant nearby. It wasn’t crowded, which promised them some peaceful moments together.

"Are you okay eating here?" Natalie asked, just to be sure.

"I don’t see any issue," Justin replied smoothly, guiding her inside.

The restaurant owner, delighted by their presence, eagerly offered them the best seat in the house.

Meanwhile, inside a deserted-looking residence...

"Briena, you have to help me," Lily sobbed, her voice trembling. "That bitch ruined my life!"

"I know, Lily," Briena said softly, her tone calm but distant. "But you should have been more careful."

Tears streamed down Lily’s face as she continued, "You don’t understand what they did to me. They... they—"

"Enough with the crying already!" Clara snapped, her voice sharp with irritation. "We all saw what you were up to. The entire elite circle saw it."

Lily flinched, knowing full well that the trap she had set for Natalie had backfired—horribly.

"It’s all her fault!" Lily cried out, anguish in her voice. "I can’t even show my face in this city anymore! I swear I will ruin her life entirely."