I Wait For You, My Love

The night following a lengthy separation was filled with unrestrained passion.

After slipping in and out of awareness multiple times during lovemaking, Natalie Simpson finally registered the familiar sound of water running in the bathroom.

Resting against the pillow, she felt completely drained, yet the moment the man stepped out, she gathered all her remaining energy and pushed herself upright.

Connor Hughes emerged shirtless, droplets still trailing from his damp hair. His skin, unusually smooth for a man, seemed to radiate an almost mesmerizing allure that was impossible to overlook.

He reached for a folder, placed it on the nightstand, and nudged it toward her.

"Contract terminated."

His words struck like an icy gust, leaving her frozen in place.

Her gaze landed on the bold heading-Sponsorship Agreement-printed across the document. A tremor ran through her as she fought to keep her tone composed.

"There are still three months left. Can't you wait a little longer?"

She had always known this day would arrive. After so many years by his side, it was inevitable. Yet, she had clung to the hope-just a little more time, just a little longer-to remain with him.

At least not now, when she had just been told she had only six months left.

The heavy silence between them gave her the clearest, most devastating answer.

"It was just a joke." Natalie lifted her shoulders in a casual shrug, trying to play it off. "Honestly, I've been meaning to end this for a while. My family's been urging me to settle down, and they've already lined up blind dates for next week. I was actually wondering how to bring it up to you."

She forced out a laugh, as if the situation was nothing more than a trivial matter.

Connor, midway through drying his hair, paused, his dark eyes flickering toward her. "You're going on blind dates?"

Natalie nodded, her expression giving the impression that it was the most natural thing in the world. "After all, I can't be with you forever; I need to settle down."

Given her fragile health condition, dreaming of a future with him was out of the question. All she wanted was to leave without making a scene.

Connor's eyes darkened. Irritated, he tossed the towel aside, pulled on his clothes hastily, and left his hair still damp.

"Dean will take care of the rest."

His voice was devoid of warmth, treating her less like a partner and more like an object he had lost interest in.

A sharp ache twisted in her chest. In that instant, every lingering thought she had held onto dissolved. She no longer harbored any illusions.

Connor's gaze landed on the torn blouse on the floor, realizing it was beyond repair. After a brief pause, he spoke again. "Stay here tonight. Dean will bring fresh clothes in the morning."

Natalie forced a smile and said, "Don't forget to remind him to bring birth control pills."

Connor's hand halted briefly as he adjusted his watch. Without looking back, he turned to leave. "Can't you tell him that yourself?"

The forced smile on Natalie's face stiffened before slowly fading.

The next morning, at exactly ten o'clock, Dean Williams, Connor's assistant, appeared at the door as expected.

He handed her a cup of warm water along with a familiar pill.

"Appreciate the cooperation, Ms. Simpson."

For three years, she had been taking these pills while with Connor. Every single time, Dean was the one who delivered them-always with that same polite, detached expression, ensuring she took them.

Natalie stared at the pill in her palm, an unsettling chill creeping through her veins.

"I brought warm water for you. Drink it before it cools," Dean said, his tone seemingly considerate, though she knew better.

He was merely making sure she wouldn't be pregnant with Connor's child.

Natalie smiled faintly, swallowed the pill, and took a slow sip of water before returning the empty glass.

"Thanks, but I prefer mine with ice."

Unbothered, Dean pulled out a stack of documents and began laying them out one by one.

"A villa at Aroma Estates, a penthouse at Bloom Towers, a suite in Spring Residences..."

As he continued listing properties, Natalie's thoughts wandered.

She had first visited Aroma Estates two years ago on her birthday. That night, she had casually mentioned to Connor that she had never seen the ocean before.

Despite having just returned from a trip to Uzrersey, he had driven for hours to take her to the coast, just so she could witness the stars shimmering over the waves.

She still remembered the salty breeze, the rhythmic crashing of the tide, the way her hair tangled with grains of sand-most of all, she remembered Connor's voice, whispering her name over and over.

That night had been the most unforgettable birthday of her life.

Dean continued, "Since you're not into sports cars, Mr. Hughes is willing to offer an extra thirty million as compensation..."

"No, that won't be necessary," Natalie cut him off.

Dean froze for a moment, bewildered. "What? You're not satisfied?"

Without a word, Natalie retrieved a cardholder from her bag and slid it across the table.

"This contains all the bank cards Connor gave me. I haven't touched them. Please return them to him. As for the money and properties..." She let out a soft chuckle and shook her head. "I don't need them."

Dean, always composed, responded smoothly, "You can rest assured-the legal paperwork has been fully notarized by Mr. Hughes' attorney. There are no hidden conditions. Given Mr. Hughes' integrity, he would never take the money back. You can accept it without concern..."

Even Connor's assistant had assumed she was just another woman driven by greed.

"The access code to Tranquil Villa is 0921." Natalie rose from her seat, clearly uninterested in prolonging the conversation. "I'll have my belongings out by 8 PM tonight. You're welcome to inspect the place then."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Dean hesitated briefly before contacting the banks where the accounts were opened.

"She never used these?"

When the confirmation came from the other end, Dean was taken aback.

This was the same woman who, three years ago, had spent the night with Connor after he had been inebriated-the one who had supposedly sold herself for five million?

After a brief pause, Dean gathered the documents and made his way to the office.

Standing before Connor's desk, he relayed Natalie's exact words.

Connor halted his work, his sharp eyes narrowing as they landed on the cardholder before him. "She never spent a single cent?"

Dean nodded. "I checked with multiple banks. Not only were the funds untouched, but there's also an extra three million in the accounts."

Connor's expression darkened slightly.

Sensing the shift in mood, Dean added cautiously, "As for Tranquil Villa, Ms. Simpson has asked me to collect its keys tonight at 8 PM."

Connor remained silent for a moment before casually returning to his paperwork, as if the matter held no significance.

"Handle it."

Leaving Tranquil Villa behind, Natalie returned to her modest rented apartment.

She had never deluded herself into believing she belonged in Tranquil Villa. Over the past three years, she had kept her apartment maintained, so moving back in was effortless.

Now, in the six months remaining in her life, she could part ways with everything on her own terms.

The night passed quietly.

At dawn, Natalie rose early. Unlike Tranquil Villa, her apartment was much farther from Hughes Group, where she worked. Skipping breakfast, she rushed out, barely making it on time.

As she settled in, her eyes lingered on the resignation letter already drafted on her screen. Her cursor hovered over the "submit" button, hesitation creeping in.

"Hey, did you hear? A big shot is coming today. I caught the director putting on makeup when I brought her coffee!"

Natalie backspaced the last line of her letter, considering a better way to phrase it.

"Holy crap! The director, who never lets anyone get close to her, is actually making an effort for this guy? She's ignored that Bailey heir for ages, and now she's dressing up for someone else? Who is he?"

"I heard he has strong ties with the director. The Bailey family's been harassing her over that contract, so this guy's here to shut them down."

"A knight in shining armor, huh? Wow. Imagine having the power to scare off the Baileys like that!"

Seated nearby, Kaitlin Marsh scoffed, casting a dismissive glance at the gossiping colleagues.

"You seriously don't know?" She smirked. "It's all over high society. The only man who could make our director fall for him is..."

Natalie tapped her finger, clicked the mouse, and scheduled the email for delivery.

Suddenly, the elevator chimed.

Seated nearby, she instinctively turned her head and immediately spotted a familiar figure.

The man had broad shoulders, a lean waist, and strikingly sharp features. His suit, tailored to perfection, accentuated every sculpted line of his frame. He was the same man who had shared a passionate night with her two nights ago.

"Wow, isn't that Connor Hughes, the sole heir to the Hughes Group?" exclaimed one of Natalie's colleagues.

The moment Connor entered the office, an electric buzz filled the air.

"Connor!"

Natalie looked up just as Vera Dawson, the director-normally composed and distant-greeted him. Today, however, a rare smile graced her lips. Her usually pinned-up hair now cascaded in loose curls, softening her icy beauty with a hint of allure.

But as Natalie took in Vera's carefully made-up face, a chill ran down her spine.

The long, dramatic eyeliner accentuated Vera's gaze, making her eyes eerily similar to Natalie's. It added an unexpected touch of seduction to her usual piercing stare.

Vera had never been one for makeup. Her natural poise was so commanding that Natalie, with her lively and expressive demeanor, had never considered any resemblance between them.

Yet now, it was undeniable-a revelation that felt like a slap, leaving her shaken.

She had been so foolish.

Once the office door shut behind them, the atmosphere gradually settled.

But the whispers did not.

"Can you believe it? That's Connor Hughes, a man of power and influence in high society. For him to personally come here... He must really value our director!"

"Obviously. After all, they once had a history," Kaitlin chimed in, her voice laced with intrigue.

Her words instantly drew everyone's focus.

She deliberately put on a spectacle-ordering coffee, requesting shoulder massages-before finally clearing her throat, surveying the room, and lowering her voice.

"Our director and Mr. Hughes were once the ultimate campus couple, admired by all. But the Hughes family? Their wealth and influence are on another level. Even affluent families struggle to get their attention. Three years ago, a contract sent our capable and independent director overseas. Rumor has it they had a bitter falling out, yet look at them now. Clearly, their story isn't over."

At those words, Natalie felt as if the ground had been ripped from beneath her.

Everything suddenly clicked.

Three years ago, Vera's abrupt departure led to that fateful night when she spent the night with Connor. Now, Vera was back, had secured a position in the company, and-by some cruel twist-ended up as her superior.

For the past three years, she had been a clueless fool, clinging to Connor's fleeting moments of kindness, mistaking them for something real. But now she realized the hard truth.

She had never been anything more than a replacement. What a cruel joke!

"Natalie!"

Natalie jolted from her daze, meeting the disapproving gaze of Jaynie Martin, their team leader.

"I've called your name three times! What's going on?"

Pushing aside the turmoil in her mind, Natalie rose to her feet. "Sorry, Jaynie, I haven't been feeling well..."

She had planned to use this moment to resign, but before she could say another word, a stack of documents landed in her hands with a sharp thud.

"Take these to the meeting room. You're leading this case, and the director is waiting!"

Natalie froze for a moment, caught off guard. Without thinking, she blurted, "But my role is in design. Wasn't Kaitlin supposed to present?"

"Kaitlin?" Jaynie scoffed. "The only thing she's good at is spreading rumors. What else could she possibly contribute?"