Chapter 1070 I Do Not Just Want To Be Friends After Jerome realized that she had been bullied during Bastienâs birthday banquet, the manâs eyes were filled with concern. âIâm fine.â âHow can you be fine? Do you know how red the palm print on your face is? Stop lying to me.â
When Jerome extended his hand in an attempt to stroke the palm print, Natalie dodged. Instead of answering his question directly, she requested, âCan we get in the car first? I want to leave right away so that I can calm down.â
Jeromeâs eyes glistened. âAll right. Letâs go then.â As Jerome opened the door to the front passenger seat, Natalie lowered her head and got in. After leaving Luna Palace, they drove to a cafe and found a private room.
The waiter, upon serving them coffee, knowingly left the room and closed the door behind him. Furrowing his brows, Jerome asked, âCan you tell me now?â
âBastien invited me to attend his birthday banquet which has nothing to do with the bank robbery from before.â After having a sip of coffee, Natalie continued, âDuring the first dance of the banquet, he didnât invite Ms. Helma to dance as planned. Instead, he invited me!â
âWhat?â Jerome, coffee cup in hand, spilled it upon being jolted by her words. Despite the hot coffee scalding his arm, he didnât feel any pain at all.
âDonât worry.â Natalie threw him a glance before adding flatly, âI did dance with him but didnât agree to his marriage proposal.
Given that Iâm married and have children, I would be a disgrace to the Loang royal family. Regardless of how strong Bastienâs feelings are for me, thereâs no way he would put his political future on the line. As for the slap on my face, it was Ms. Helma who hit me. However, I donât blame her. Even though this matter wasnât my doing, I was still the reason she was ridiculed in public.â
âYou and Prince Jonathan?â
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âYes, we know each other.â Natalie nodded. âBefore tonightâs events, we were still considered friends. But now, thereâs no more relationship to speak of. Iâm sure you know what I hate the most, and yet, he did exactly that to me!â
Jerome nodded in agreement. Ever since Natalie was young, she hated to have her path dictated by someone else. Given her inherent love for freedom, she enjoyed the unpredictability of the future. All that mattered to her was a clear conscience.
As a result, when Bastien unilaterally decided to invite her to dance under the keen eyes of the public, he thought that he was bestowing upon her the highest honor. Little did he know that he was forcing her along a pre-determined pathâan act that crossed her threshold.
âNatalie, do you want to leave Loang for the time being?â
âWhy?â Chuckling, Natalie threw the question back at him. âAre you worried that heâd exact revenge on me?â
âAlthough you werenât the cause of the events tonight, you have practically offended everyone there is to offend. Considering the royal familyâs authority reaches every corner of Loang, it might be dangerous for you to continue staying here,â Jerome analyzed the situation for her.
âYou know, life is just too unpredictable. Perhaps by spoiling his plans, the other princes might admire me for my attitude.
Anyway, I donât care about what others think of me as long as my conscience is clear. Since my heart belongs to Samuel, Iâll definitely stay loyal to him.â
Just the thought of Samuel elicited an instinctive smile from Natalieâs face.
âI would rather die than betray Samuel.â
The resolute look in Natalieâs eyes triggered a tingling sensation in Jeromeâs heart. Although he had given up hope on being together with her, sorrow still filled his soul when he heard Natalie declare her love for Samuel.
âNatalie, I respect your decision. If staying in Loang is what you want, my father and I will definitely protect you. Since youâre like a sister to me, thereâs no way I would allow any harm to come your way.â
When the word âsisterâ rolled off his tongue, it brought a sting to his heart.