Chapter 269: Free Bitches

"Why?" Natalie somehow managed to ask.

But behind that single were so many questions she wanted to ask him.

So many stirred her mind.

"Is doing it for my sake not enough? This will be the last time I’m asking you to forgive them," she heard him say.

Once more, Natalie fell silent.

"Nat?" Albert’s voice came through again.

Natalie’s hand clutched the cellphone tightly as she finally said, "Alright," and hung up the call.

Her eyes turned moist, but she stopped herself from shedding a single tear.

She dialed Daniel’s number and told him to withdraw the case.

-----

Inside the hospital room, Albert sat on the hospital bed, staring at his mobile screen with teary eyes. It was the first time Natalie had ever hung up on him like this. He could guess she was hurt and probably angry with him this time—or worse, she might have felt betrayed.

"Good!" a woman’s voice interrupted his thoughts. She stood up from the couch and continued, "The discharge process is complete. We’ll leave for home now."

Albert looked up at her. "How can you be this cruel, Sephina?"

"Cruel?" Sephina scoffed, her tone sharp as she looked at him. "Cruel is what you and your cherished daughter-in-law did to me and my son. Do you think I’ve forgotten just because I never talk about it?" She walked toward him, her gaze icy. "I’ve been silent for a long time, but if you keep this up, I won’t stay silent anymore."

Albert’s expression turned angry. "In exchange for your silence, I’ve already handed over the entire Ford Group to you and given you all the rights over the family. Meanwhile, I’m left like this—helpless. What more do you want?"

"You’ve only bought my silence, not my anger," Sephina countered. "This anger will never go away. Natalie—she has to pay for what you and Caryn did back then. But if you keep interfering, I’m not sure how long I can stay quiet. I might just go to Natalie and reveal everything to her."

"Don’t you dare," Albert warned, his voice firm. "The day you do that, I’ll forget any relation I have with you. And on that day, not just Natalie, but every one of us will pay for it."

Sephina glared at him. "You... For Caryn and her daughter, you’re willing to do anything. I wonder if you were ever like this for your own son. If you had been, that Caryn wouldn’t have been the one to take control. My son would have been."

"You know your own son’s capabilities," Albert retorted. "If you had trusted him, you would have given him power in the company instead of hoarding it for yourself."

Sephina clenched her fists tightly and turned toward the door. "I’m going ahead. You can come out with the nurse," she said curtly before walking out.

Albert sighed helplessly and mumbled to himself, "I’m sorry, Caryn. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep the promise I made to you."

------

At the police station, Daniel had followed Natalie’s orders. Briena and Clara were free to return home.

Once Briena settled into the car, she couldn’t help but ask, "Mom, was that Grandma’s doing?"

Clara smirked. "I told you. As long as we have Sephina Ford with us, Natalie can’t do anything."

"But what did she do to make Natalie take the case back?" Briena asked, her brow furrowed. "I truly can’t understand."

"Even I’m wondering what exactly your grandma is holding onto that can change things so easily. If only I knew, I’d use it against Natalie and shut her up for life," Clara said, her smirk growing darker.

"Mom, you really need to find out," Briena said, mirroring her mother’s smirk.

"I’m already working on it," Clara replied confidently. "I just need to get something and the mystery would be solved."

-----

Within half an hour, the news channels were streaming the latest headlines:

Mia and Cathy, who were in Mia’s office, watched the news in utter shock.

"What the hell?" Cathy exclaimed, glaring at the images of Clara and Briena leaving the police station together. "Those two bitches are free again to trouble Nat?"

Mia remained calm, though her eyes betrayed her anger. She picked up her cellphone and dialed Natalie’s number. The moment Natalie answered, Mia spoke. "Nat, how are you?"

Mia’s voice was filled with concern, knowing something must have happened to force Natalie into freeing Briena and Clara.

Natalie’s calm voice came through the line. "I’m fine, Mia..."

"Where are you?" Mia interrupted, not buying a word of her reassurance. "Home? I’m coming there."

"No need. Focus on your work..."

"I’m already leaving," Mia said, standing up resolutely, with Cathy following her.

"I’m not at my home," Natalie replied.

"I’ll come wherever you are," Mia said, her tone resolute.

"I’m at Justin’s home," Natalie finally admitted.

"Send me the address," Mia said and hung up the call.

"How is she?" Cathy asked, walking alongside Mia.

"As usual, acting fine," Mia replied curtly, adding, "Cath, we’re going to her husband’s home. I know you have a ton of questions about him, but don’t bother her about it—not yet."

"Don’t worry," Cathy assured her.

----

At Ford Mansion.

Clara and Briena returned home to find Sephina waiting for them in the drawing room.

"Grandma!" Briena, now in high spirits, went straight to Sephina’s side and sat next to her. She held Sephina’s hand tightly. "Thank you so much, Grandma. I knew you wouldn’t let me stay there for long."

"It was my fault for not being cautious," Sephina said, her tone calm. "There’s no way I would leave my precious granddaughter in a filthy place like a police station."

"I love you, Grandma," Briena said happily, her smile wide.

Clara took a seat in one of the chairs and added, "Thank you, Mother."

Sephina hummed in response, while Briena eagerly asked, "But Grandma, how did you make Natalie back down?"

"You don’t need to know," Sephina replied firmly. "Just focus on what you need to do."

"What do you mean by ’how’?" Clara chimed in. "Your grandma is still in charge of our family and holds all the power. That Natalie—she’ll always be a naive little kid compared to your mother."

"Yes, yes. My Grandma is the best," Briena cheered.

The mother and daughter exchanged glances, hoping Sephina would reveal how she managed to pull it off. But, as usual, Sephina remained tight-lipped.

The two could only frown inwardly, their curiosity growing.

they wondered.