Chapter 164 That Bastard Who Doesn't Come Home
Instead of being a loving father he was yesterday, Norman looked fierce and angry. And Maria looked like she was ready to tear someone apart.
"Aurelia, didn't you promise you'd go with Nathaniel today to finalize the divorce? Where were you?" Norman questioned. He'd found out early that Nathaniel was at the company and had no plans to leave. He suspected Aurelia had just been placating him yesterday and hadn't really prioritized the divorce.
Maria jumped in, "What a slut! You're just trying to hold onto my son-in-law. Have some shame. Even if you cling to him, it's useless if he's not yours. Nathaniel and Chelsea are meant to be together. It's your presence that forced them apart. Otherwise, my grandchild would have been born long ago, not just now."
Aurelia, wiping her wet hair, shot back, "Can you have some shame? Isn't cheating a family trait of yours?"
Before Maria could explode, Norman yelled, "Do you even have manners? Is that how Brenda taught you?"
Aurelia, now completely soaked, exuded a chill. She glared at Norman, remembering how he callously refused to visit Penelope, even when she knelt outside his new villa in the rain for a day, pleading with him. To bring up filial piety now was shameless.
"Norman, do you even know that today is Penelope's anniversary? She's been gone for three years, and you don't even know where her grave is, do you?" Aurelia said coldly.
Norman was taken aback, clearly unaware of the significance of the day, feeling embarrassed by Aurelia's direct questioning.
"Stop changing the subject. Why didn't you go through with the divorce?" Norman asked.
Aurelia chuckled, "Norman, do you even understand what you're saying?"
Even if she and Nathaniel were to divorce due to relationship issues, she wasn't foolish enough to listen to Norman's few words and rush to divorce, giving Chelsea the position.
Norman's eyes narrowed, "Are you lying to me?"
Aurelia, feeling relieved by the confrontation with Norman and Maria, said, "Chelsea wants to be Mrs. Heilbronn. I won't allow it. If she has the guts, let's see who lives longer. As long as I'm alive, she'll always be the third party."
"You..." Maria couldn't hold back and took a few steps forward, looking like she was about to strike.
"Nathaniel, you're here!" Aurelia quickly changed her tone, diverting attention.
Maria and Norman were surprised by her call for Nathaniel and quickly composed themselves, putting on fake smiles as they looked toward where Aurelia was looking. By then, Aurelia had already distanced herself, creating a safe gap between them.
"That damned woman, just as cunning as her mother!" Maria's eyes gleamed with malice, her face filled with murderous intent.
Norman stomped his foot in frustration.
Maria complained, "I told you this woman is unreliable and not worth trusting. You insisted on making arrangements with her. What do we do now?"
Frustrated and irritable, Norman snapped, "I don't know!"
Maria smiled mysteriously, "If you can't handle it, I'll do it my way. I won't allow Chelsea to walk the path I once did."
The memories of waiting in a house bought by a man, hiding a love child, enduring the gossip of neighbors, and the erratic behavior of the man had left a lasting impression on Maria. She had suffered through depression but had eventually become his wife. She wouldn't allow her daughter to endure the same fate, living a hidden life in shame.
Now that Norman couldn't handle it, Maria would clear the obstacles for her daughter.
"I have something to attend to, so I'll go back first. You go and be with Chelsea," Maria said, mustering up a determined look.
Norman asked, surprised, "We're already here in the yard. Aren't you going to see Chelsea?"
Maria replied, "I think I left a pot of soup cooking on the stove. The maid is on leave, and the house might catch fire."
Norman urged her, "Then go back quickly!"
Maria hurriedly left the hospital, and Norman watched her departing figure, muttering, "Useless woman. Can't even cook properly."
Aurelia, dripping wet, returned to Reed's ward, causing Reed to worry, "Why did you go out without an umbrella? Go and change before you catch a cold."
Aurelia found some clothes in the suitcase on the floor and headed to the bathroom for a shower.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel entered and saw her back, asking, "Grandpa, how are you feeling today?"
Reed glanced at him, clearly not wanting to engage, but Nathaniel's persistent visits had worn him down. He couldn't understand how this shameless person was a Heilbronn.
With a sniff, Reed grumbled, "What are you doing here?"
Nathaniel rubbed the back of his neck, feeling helpless. There was nothing he could do when Reed got in a mood like this. He then asked, "Grandpa, why are you still mad at me?"
Reed wanted to lecture him about getting his act together, "Tell me, what have you been busy with lately? So busy that you couldn't come home for days?"
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow slightly, wondering if Aurelia had complained about him to Reed. He detailed the main tasks at the company, hoping for understanding. But Reed, unimpressed, sneered, "Is that all you're capable of? A few tasks keeping you so busy you can't come home for days?"
Reed had already had Nathaniel's office sleeping investigated privately. The fact that Nathaniel hadn't returned home for several days had reached Reed.
Reed scolded, "You haven't made any progress at all!"
Nathaniel was left speechless. Indeed, the few tasks he had mentioned weren't enough to keep him away from home for days. It wasn't that he couldn't come home; he didn't dare to face the woman who made him feel guilty.
He was conflicted.
Hiding in the office was his way of calming down and sorting things out. After all, Chelsea was pregnant with his child.
The news had come as a shock, disrupting all his plans.
He wanted to be an irresponsible man, but he also feared that Chelsea might do something drastic. With lives lost, he would never forgive himself.
Chelsea was once the woman who had risked her life to save him!
In the bathroom, Aurelia had just finished her shower, unable to hear the conversation outside due to the sound of running water. Unaware of Nathaniel's arrival, she turned off the water, preparing to dry herself. However, a sudden slip caused her to lose her footing and hit her head on the wall, leaving her dazed and seeing stars. Luckily, she didn't fall.
As the door opened from the outside, Aurelia's heart raced as she anxiously looked towards the entrance.
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