Chapter 1034 Crossing Samuel Bowers
Billy hesitated briefly before nodding. “Understood, Mr. Bowers.”
Likewise, the apprehensiveness was palpable on Natalie’s face when she regarded the floor bound and trembling Heidi.
When Samuel noticed that Natalie did not seem ready to leave, he clasped her diminutive hands within his own large mitts. “What’s on your mind, Nat?”
Biting down on her lip, Natalie did not know what to say. Heidi had it coming to her and isn’t deserving of my sympathy. And had Samuel not taken precautions, I might have suffered greatly at her hands even if I managed to escape. Though it seems fair for Samuel to give her a taste of her own medicine now, the fact remains that Heidi’s background is exceptional. No matter how deplorable she may be, she is still the daughter that Geert had recently reunited with.
Her mind continued to race.
Previously, when Samuel was not around, Geert could only be upset with her if he wanted someone to be upset with for whatever she did. With Samuel’s intervention, I fear that Geert might now direct his own ire toward him and the Bowers family that is centered around him instead. Seeing how closely the Bowers has been in collaboration with Loang, the Bowers family could face massive losses if the Leitzes wanted to make life difficult for him. There is no need for Samuel to forsake so much goodwill for my sake.
Heidi, who was able to see through Natalie’s reservations, sat up on the floor and started to laugh tauntingly. “If she won’t spell it out, then I will! You’re a smart man yourself, Samuel, and must know the standing us Leitzes already enjoy in Loang. Our position will only grow in significance as soon as my sister becomes wedded to Prince Jonathan, the leader in the race to become the heir apparent to the crown. You should know that no matter what I did before, you’d be tarnishing the reputation of the Leitz family for daring to treat me this way! My father still feels guilt toward my mother, so there’s no way he’d allow you to humiliate me and get away with it!”
Samuel’s grip on Natalie’s hand only grew tighter, and he swiftly turned to regard Heidi with resolve. “So what?”
“You’ve gone mad. Samuel!” Heidi’s face fell when she heard that, and her pitch became oddly pronounced. “All this, for the sake of a woman? Never have women gotten the better of wealth and power from even the most wonderful romances. This has been the case since antiquity. Is it worth destroying your own future for her?”
Scoffing softly, Samuel responded frostily, “That’s because those who gave up their fortunes for love were considered losers and would never have the chance to be written into the history books.
It wouldn’t kill me if I had no money, but it would if I were to lose her. Hurting her is akin to hurting me, and a transgression against her is tantamount to a transgression against me. As such, you’ve already crossed a line that you shouldn’t have, and I’m already showing Geert Leitz tremendous respect by allowing you to live.”
With that, Samuel led Natalie out of the secret room and exited that restaurant without ever looking back.
Many traversed the space inside the restaurant, but none could have imagined the events that had just transpired behind it.
In spite of the bustle of voices around her, Natalie felt the world to be strangely tranquil.
All she could feel was the warmth emanating from within Samuel’s palm and also the muffled gruffness of his breath.
Outside the restaurant, Samuel led Natalie back to the car, then away and homeward.
While that was happening, Bastien, who had just finished his meal, spotted Natalie walking out of the restaurant holding hands with a man.
Isn’t that her? That woman who I met once in Chanaea?
Throwing down the napkin he had just used to wipe his mouth with, Bastien got up with the intention of going out in pursuit.
Joseph could not help but ask when he saw his employer’s eagerness to leave, “Mr. Nine, where are you—”
“I saw that woman!” Bastien’s eyes had suddenly come alive, burning with enthusiasm inside. “Never expected that she had left Chanaea and come to Loang.”
Joseph had always known that Prince Jonathan had given his heart away in Chanaea.
Back then, Bastien only did a low-key search for that woman, but without success. He was concerned that expanding his search might draw the attention of Prince Hanson, who would use her to threaten him. Seeing how that could be detrimental to her safety, he decided to abandon his endeavor.
Never in his wildest dream had he expected that the one he had sought would come to Loang of her own volition and even visit the capital Yaleview.
