Chapter 14
While Boston was in chaos, Natalie had already settled into life in a small southern border town.
Only after Grandmother’s death did Natalie learn that during her three years in prison, Grandmother had been secretly saving money for her.
Perhaps out of guilt, every time Christian visited Grandmother, he would give her a large, thick red envelope.
Grandmother couldn’t bear to spend it. After he left, she would quietly go to the county bank to deposit all the money.
Christian had lied to her, saying Natalie had gone abroad to study and wouldn’t return for about three years.
Grandmother feared she would suffer abroad and worried that Christian might change his heart during those three years.
That’s why she decided to return to her old trade, picking up her embroidery needle again.
She saved every penny she couldn’t bear to eat or spend, all for Natalie.
She had planned to personally hand it to her when they met again.
But she never imagined their final meeting would be so absurd…
Suddenly someone patted her shoulder.
Natalie snapped out of her daze.
“Sitting here alone daydreaming again?”
Ruby draped a shawl over Natalie’s shoulders.
She had flown here a week ago.
The first sight of Natalie shocked her.
How had such a small–framed woman lost over twenty pounds in such a short time?
Natalie looked like skin stretched over bones, as if a strong wind could blow her away,
Prolonged malnutrition had made even her hair color yellowed and brittle.
She languished in that airless room.
That appearance was exactly like when Ruby first met her in prison.
Ruby’s eyes filled with heartache.
Tears uncontrollably crawled from her eye sockets.
She could still cry, but Natalie couldn’t.
Her eyes had nearly gone blind from endless crying during her early prison days.
Natalie’s first days in prison hadn’t been easy.
A group of inmates, seemingly paid off by someone, constantly beat her until she was covered in bruises.
Natalie fought back, but the result was nearly losing her voice and ruining her throat.
00:34
3 Years in Prison for His Lies. Now I’m Coming for Him
10.6%
Chapter 14
Finally, Ruby couldn’t stand watching anymore.
She led others to drive away that group.
Only then did Natalie get a chance to breathe.
It was after that incident that Ruby learned why Natalie was imprisoned.
She’d seen too many “devils.”
But someone as heartless and despicable as Christian–she’d never encountered before.
Seeing it was her, Natalie smiled gently.
“I’m thinking of Grandmother. I imagine she’s become a star in heaven now, twinkling in the sky watching over me.”
Ruby’s heart clenched, but she didn’t want to cry in front of Natalie.
Seeing her sadness, Natalie actually laughed.
“Ruby, I’m okay now.”
“Really okay. I think Grandmother wouldn’t want to see me defeated like this. I’ll work hard to live, to make myself strong. I’ll eat well, sleep well, and live each day properly.”
Ruby’s tears streamed out.
Full of anger, she wiped them with her sleeve.
“Yes! Natalie, you have to be strong! Your grandmother is watching from heaven! You must live better than anyone else! Especially those two scumbags–you have to see them get their comeuppance with your own eyes!”
Natalie smiled and hugged her.
The three years of wrongful imprisonment were unspeakable pain for her lifetime.
But meeting Ruby was the one blessing in her misfortune!
Using the money Grandmother left her, Natalie built a bed–and–breakfast in this picturesque town.
Ruby stayed too.
At night, they held wine bottles and chatted.
Only then did Natalie learn why Ruby hated men.
As a teenager, she’d followed a so–called “brother.”
Because she loved him, she ruined the rest of her life.
She took the fall for that man.
He promised to wait for her release, take her home, marry her, and have children.
But when Ruby got out, she discovered that man had long since moved away with a girl he’d rescued from a bar, escaping to somewhere she could never find.
Ruby was heavily drunk, tears flowing like water from a faucet.
00:34
3 Years in Prison for His Lies Now I’m Coming for Him
10.8%
Chapter 14
She held the wine bottle, crying until she was breathless.
Until she cried herself to exhaustion, collapsed sideways on the bed, and fell into deep sleep.
Natalie had drunk quite a bit but seemed to grow more sober with each drink.
She cleaned the drunk Ruby’s face and removed her makeup, tidied everything on the table, then returned to her own room.
Natalie slowly sat at her desk and took out the phone from her drawer.
She hadn’t charged it in so long that the screen was black.
After charging and turning it on, countless messages flooded in.
“Honey, I miss you so much. Where are you?”
♡ (0)
