Chapter 182: I Am Enough For Her

The atmosphere fell into dead silence. Irene lay on the ground, clutching her stinging cheek, her eyes filling with tears. Natalie stood rooted in place, her icy gaze fixed on Irene.

Ryan, equally stunned, whispered to John, "That was a flawless slap. Her jaw must be aching."

"She’s lucky it was just a slap," John replied quietly.

"Yeah, I’ve heard Ms. Natalie once nearly strangled someone for insulting Mr. Harper."

"Just like him, she’s fiercely protective when someone insults him," John added.

Meanwhile...

"Irene?" Briena and Ivan hurried to her side, with Ivan helping his sister sit up while Amelia rushed over as well.

"Are you alright?" Briena asked in a concerned tone.

Amelia glared at Natalie. "How dare you hit my daughter?"

"Are you out of your mind?" Ivan snapped, glaring at Natalie with fury. He adored his sister, and seeing her hurt and humiliated in front of everyone made his blood boil.

"If I were out of my mind, she wouldn’t have gotten away with just a slap," Natalie retorted, her gaze unyielding as she looked at the Browns and everyone around. "This is a warning to all of you—no one is allowed to insult my husband. I won’t tolerate it, regardless of who you are."

Amelia marched toward her, livid. "You dared to hit my daughter over him? Who even is he—a gigolo?"

"Watch your words," Natalie warned. "Or I’ll forget that you’re older than me, Amelia Brown."

"You... I’m truly relieved you didn’t marry my son," Amelia spat back.

"Trust me," Natalie replied coldly, "now that I think about it, I feel the same. A man who didn’t trust me and couldn’t even try to understand what happened—that was reason enough to marry someone who sees no one else but me, and he trusts me."

Ivan heard her words but couldn’t respond.

With Briena and Ivan’s help, Irene stood up, her tearful eyes glaring at Natalie. "You claim you didn’t know how you ended up married to that man, yet seeing you so possessive over him, it seems it was all an act. You were cheating on my brother all along. And you dare talk about trust. You cheat."

Natalie stood unbothered. "So? What can you and your brother do?"

Irene looked to Ivan. "See? She isn’t even denying it. She’s been using you all along to secure a position in your company. Who knows what she would have done if her marriage hadn’t been exposed? She’d probably have robbed you blind."

Ivan glanced at Natalie, searching her face for any hint of truth. But Natalie offered no reaction, turning instead to Albert. "Grandpa, I’m sorry if I’ve ruined the party."

"It’s not your fault," Albert reassured her.

"You always defend her, Albert, even after seeing her resort to violence," Sephina spoke up. "Even if she killed someone, you’d still say it wasn’t her fault."

"I don’t doubt my ability to kill someone," Natalie retorted, "And if I did, I’m certain it would be their own fault for pushing me to it. You haven’t even seen the true extent of what I’m capable of, Grandma."

"I’ve never doubted your... abilities," Sephina replied coldly. "That’s precisely why you don’t deserve to be a Ford."

"My wife doesn’t need the Ford family’s title. I’m enough for her."

A deep, commanding voice cut through the tension, and everyone turned toward its source.

A devilishly handsome man in a tailored black suit stood at a distance, his gaze fixed on Natalie, ignoring everyone else around them. His presence was magnetic and imposing, commanding everyone’s attention as he walked forward. His large strides were steady and confident, his expression cold and unyielding.

As Natalie watched him approach, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She saw him practically every day, shared a home with him, yet in moments like these, his arrival and mere presence affected her senses, making him seem almost otherworldly.

Perhaps it was the loneliness she felt among these people, and his presence was a reminder that she wasn’t alone.

Today, Justin wasn’t dressed in his usual understated clothes. He had arrived as and even in his simplest attire, his presence was undeniable.

John and Ryan stood alert at Justin’s arrival.

The young women around couldn’t help but whisper among themselves, finding it nearly impossible to take their eyes off Justin. Their eyes widened, mouths fell open, and hearts raced at the sight of him. But it wasn’t just them; every person there was equally captivated by his presence.

"Who is he?"

"How can a man be so perfectly handsome?"

"Why haven’t we seen him before?"

Ivan stood nearby, a sense of uncertainty gripping him.

The air around this man exuded a powerful presence that was anything but ordinary. If this was the man they’d been gossiping about, Ivan was certain he wasn’t a gigolo.

Briena, even with Ivan by her side, couldn’t stop her heart from racing at the sight of Justin.

"Who is he?" Irene asked Briena, nearly drooling over the newcomer.

Justin stopped directly in front of Natalie, ignoring everyone else around him as if they didn’t exist. "Have I kept you waiting long?" he asked softly.

Natalie shook her head, her gaze dreamy as she looked up at him. If her eyes could speak, they’d be filled with hearts in that moment. She was entirely charmed, and she knew it.

"You’re right on time," she replied, glancing toward her grandfather. "Grandpa was waiting for you."

Justin turned to Albert, offering a respectful bow. "Mr. Ford."

Albert smiled warmly. "Good to see you here, Aiden."

Irene turned to Briena, in disbelief. "Is that truly Natalie’s husband?"

Briena gritted her teeth, nodding.

"How on earth did she end up with a man like that?" Irene muttered, only to catch her brother’s gaze on her.

Flustered, she quickly added, "He’s just a gigolo. My brother is much better." But inside, she was undeniably captivated by Justin.

The other young women couldn’t contain their shock.

"Is he really her husband?"

"Oh my god, who he?"

"He doesn’t look like a gigolo at all."

"He’s handsome."

"No one in this city—not even the sons of the wealthiest families—is as good-looking as he is."

"Is he some rich man from another city?"

Ivan overheard every word, his gaze fixed on Natalie and Justin as jealousy simmered within him.

The way she looked at Justin, Natalie had never looked at him. It made him feel bitter.