Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49 Stop Talking Jackson Seriously

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Her mother had never treated any other child with such tenderness. A sharp pang of jealousy surged through Aiden.

He raised his voice, shouting, “Mom! Dad’s talking to you–why aren’t you answering him?”

“What did you just say? I didn’t catch that…”

At the sound of Aiden’s voice, Natalie turned her gaze back to the man; still, her hand remained firmly wrapped around Lily’s.

“Dad’s asking who this little girl is,” Aiden said, glaring up at her, his round eyes flashing with anger. “Why are you holding her hand? Why are you being so nice to her?”

Natalie was about to answer, but the man across from her spoke first. “So this is why you’re in such a hurry to divorce me? Because you’ve already found someone else?”

Her brow arched sharply, a cold edge flashing in her eyes. Clearly, Lily had led to the misunderstanding.

“Jackson, don’t jump to conclusions,” Victoria interjected, stepping forward slightly. She reached out, fingers curling around the sleeve of his suit jacket in a gesture of feigned gentleness.

Her voice was soft, but Natalie caught the fleeting flicker of smugness–mockery, even–that flashed in Victoria’s eyes.

“Who told you I’ve found someone else?” Natalie asked, her gaze steady and glacial as it locked on him.

“If you haven’t,” Jackson shot back, his tone rising, “then where did this little girl come from? Did she just crawl out of a rock?”

Natalie’s jaw tightened; irritation flared hot and sharp.

“Jackson, if you can’t speak like a decent human being, then just shut your mouth,” she snapped without hesitation.

Crawled out of nowhere? The sheer absurdity of it made her seethe.

“Natalie, what happened to you in those three years in prison?” Jackson’s voice rose, his expression darkening with frustration. The sight of her shielding the little girl, her sharp tone, only fueled his anger.

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10:58 Sat, Sep 27

Chapter 49 Stop Talking Jackson Seriously

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“You used to be gentle and polite to me, to the entire Collins family. But now, every word out of your mouth is sharp, like you’re ready for a fight. What changed you so much?”

Ha. So, even now, this man still didn’t understand why I had changed. Natalie’s lips curled in a cold, mocking smile.

“Maybe I just finally woke up, after my conscience was chewed up and spit out,” she said evenly, her voice flat and her expression unreadable.

“Ms. Foster, there’s no need to speak to Jackson that way. Even as an outsider, hearing you talk like that, it’s chilling,” Victoria murmured, her voice coated in false sweetness.

Natalie didn’t spare her so much as a glance; she tightened her hold on Lily’s hand and started toward the classroom.

But Jackson’s voice rang out sharply behind her. “Natalie, if you don’t give me an explanation today, don’t even think about walking away!”

The sharpness of his tone made her

pause instinctively.

Maybe it was his volume, maybe the harshness of his words, but Lily startled, shrinking back and clutching Natalie’s arm, her big eyes shining with unshed tears.

She might have been young, but she understood enough–enough to know that the angry man shouting at Natalie was her husband.

“Explain what?” Natalie shot back, her voice rising as she stepped protectively in front of Lily. “I’ve already asked you for a divorce; the papers are in your hands. What’s left to explain?”

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