Bye-bye Trash! Hello Queen! novel Chapter 278

In her past life, spoiled by her grandfather and Owen, she had been blissfully naive. That was why she had thrown herself so passionately into a new family and a new love. But human nature is a cold, fickle thing. She finally understood the old saying: nothing is colder than a human heart, and nothing is cheaper than affection.

A late apology is worthless. Something that has been broken can be glued back together, but the cracks will always remain. The Scott family and Sebastian—she would rather have never met them at all.

That night, Natalie was once again tormented by nightmares of her past life. In the dream, the attacker was carving into her face with a knife, drop by drop, then dripping a powerful chemical into the wounds. The corrosive acid burned so intensely that she fainted again and again, her body convulsing in agony even in her sleep.

"Hah…" Natalie's eyes flew open. Sunlight was streaming through the window. She grabbed her phone and immediately called Queena.

"Natalie, you should sleep in. I'm almost at the airport," Queena's voice came through, warm and reassuring.

"I'm so sorry, Queena," Natalie said, feeling guilty. "I overslept. I didn't get to see you off." The nightmare had held her in its grip all night.

"Natty, don't worry about me. Wayne is dropping me off. I'll be back before you know it."

Hearing that Wayne was with her made Natalie happy. "Okay, Queena. Be safe over there, and call me if you need anything."

"Of course," Queena said cheerfully. "You're my only friend. And Natalie? The future will be better. Don't be so sad."

"Natalie, is that really you? I'm not dreaming, am I?" It had been nine months. A whole nine months since they'd last seen each other.

Back when she first joined the Scott family, Natalie had been closest to Zenobia. No matter how much Joanna tried to stir up trouble, Zenobia had always been the one to believe her. And because of that, Jerome had always viewed Zenobia with suspicion, thinking she was no good either. He had been the one who was blind, yet he thought he was so righteous.

Natalie's own eyes grew misty. It had only been nine months for Zenobia, but for Natalie, it felt like a century.

"Zenobia," she said softly, "it's me."