Chapter 1098: Chapter 1101

Chapter 1101 The Negotiations Have Fallen Through Bastien didn’t answer her question right away, but Natalie wasn’t in a rush. She took a sip of coffee and refused to touch the strawberries and cream cake that the man had brought.

“Blaze has been looking for the mysterious jade key that concerns Loang’s ancient artifacts. These thousand-year-old national treasures are the foundation of the country. In essence, whoever gets their hands on the jade key holds Loang’s lifeline...”

Natalie was shocked to hear that, for she was the one who had the jade key. A mixture of emotions surged within her, but her face remained devoid of expression. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Do you know the location of the jade key?” Bastien cut straight to the chase. “The key concerns Loang’s national treasures.

Certainly, it’d be more appropriate for a member of the royal family to hold on to it.”

After a brief pause, he added, “I’ll help you rescue your child from Blaze, but in exchange, I hope you’ll tell me everything you know.” “How are you so sure that I have the information you’re seeking?”

“I looked into the child who was abducted. She’s a descendant of the Jankovich family, who’s in control of the jade key.” A crease appeared between Bastien’s brows as he continued, “Although I have no idea how you found her and even managed to adopt her, I’m sure she knows where the jade key is. If you really don’t know, then hand her over to me. I can assure you that I won’t hurt her.”

Looking at the man in front of her, Natalie couldn’t help but notice how he’d become a stranger to her.

The gentle Mr. Nine was nothing more than a façade, and the real him was a monster filled with horrible desires.

Indeed, it was just as she had expected.

Bastien helping her rescue Yumi came with a price, and the price was exactly what Blaze wanted from her—the jade key that was worth a king’s ransom.

“I don’t need your help,” Natalie said, her voice laced with determination as she stared into the man’s eyes. “I don’t know anything about the Jankovich family. All I know is that she’s my daughter and someone I want to protect. I won’t hand her over to you, let alone allow her to be caught up in the royal family’s dispute.”

“Natalie, do you really think you’d be able to rescue her all by yourself?”

In the face of rejection, Bastien became paranoid, and his voice grew louder.

“Your man is nowhere to be found when you need him the most! Do you think you’re that smart and capable of putting up a fight all by yourself? How could you disregard the help that I’m offering with such sincerity?”

Admittedly, Bastien was an ambitious man at heart, but he also knew that his heart lay with Natalie.

However, she scoffed at his sincerity and rejected his assistance in a way that left no room for discussion.

“Prince Jonathan, I believe I’ve made things extremely clear with you during the palace banquet at Luna Palace,” Natalie answered candidly. “You’re a prince, and I’m a commoner. It’s best if we put some distance between us. As for the key and the Jankovich family, I suggest you look into them carefully. The grudge between Blaze and I have nothing to do with the key. It’s solely because I attacked their underground base while I was in Chanaea.”

With that, Natalie left some cash on the table and strode out of the café with her backpack.

She was only doing this for Yumi’s sake.

No matter how important the jade key was, it was merely an inanimate object. On the other hand, Yumi was a young child who shouldn’t have to shoulder such heavy responsibilities.

As such, Natalie was determined to stop anyone who was interested in investigating the little girl.

After Natalie left, a loud crash reverberated through the café. Raw anger shot through Bastien, causing him to swipe the coffee cups off of the table.

The dark brown beverage spilled all over the ground, making a huge mess.

I’m always thinking for her, yet she completely disregarded my sincerity! What an evil wretch!

Just then, Joseph came over to him, handing him a handkerchief to clean his hand.

“Mr. Nine, a woman like her is undeserving of all this,” Joseph couldn’t help but comment.

“Shut up.” Bastien cleaned the coffee stains off of his finger as a sharp glint fleeted across his eyes. “I’ve said that she’s the only woman I’ll acknowledge and accept as my wife. Do not let me hear you speak ill of her ever again.”