Chapter 2 What She Went Through "You've been to prison, and now you want a divorce? What will people think?" Aiden blurted out. Even Jackson froze for a second. He figured she'd play the victim, maybe try to squeeze some money out of them. After all, everyone knew she'd married into the Collins family for status. What he didn't expect... was for her to ask for a divorce. Not after everything. Three years ago, she'd done everything she could to stay close to them. To stay in their lives. Now, even with a criminal record and three years behind bars, she wanted out? To him, this was just another manipulation tactic. A way to guilt them into chasing after her. Jackson's voice turned cold. "Aiden's right. If you walk away from the Collins family, where exactly are you going to go? Keep acting like this, and you're just turning yourself into a joke." But Natalie didn't react. She got a cab and didn't even look at the driver staring at her. Just before she got in, she turned to look at Jackson and Aiden one last time. "That's my business," she said flatly. "I'll send the divorce papers when I have time. Congrats-now you can let Victoria be your wife and Aiden's new mom." Her voice was cold. Distant. And with that, she got in the car and never looked back. Jackson watched her thin, unsteady figure disappear. For some reason, it irritated him. He hadn't even planned to come today. He only showed up because Victoria and his grandfather insisted. And she had the nerve to ask for a divorce? The Natalie from back then would've been so grateful; she would've clung to him in tears. He narrowed his eyes. Let's see what a woman with a prison record thinks she can pull off now. ... Natalie leaned back in the taxi. By chance, the screen on the dashboard started playing an interview. "Victoria, you're now one of the hottest stars in the industry. Any thoughts about your personal life?" the reporter teased. Onscreen, Victoria smiled and glanced toward the audience. Her eyes locked onto Jackson and Aiden sitting in the front row, and she blushed. "I'm really happy with everything I have right now. These past three years... I've had two amazing men by my side during the toughest time in my life." The way they looked at each other, they really did seem like the perfect family. The driver, used to driving around that area, chimed in casually, "You probably just got out, huh? That's Ms. Victoria on TV. Those two-Mr. Jackson and his son-yeah, they're her family. On her birthday, he lit up the whole sky with fireworks just for her. Beautiful family. Real classy." Natalie finally looked up. Her thin frame seemed even smaller inside that oversized coat. She stared at the screen for a long while without saying a word. When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse and distant. "Classy? More like trashy." While she was getting beaten and starved behind bars, they were out playing happy family, watching fireworks light up the sky. She'd gotten used to how cold they were. She thought she was past feeling anything. But somehow, this still stung. The driver started to say something, then stopped. Maybe it was the way she looked-frail, like the wind could knock her over. Maybe it was because he'd picked her up right outside the prison gates. Either way, he didn't argue. Natalie eventually closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. The cab pulled up to the only property still in her name. She paid the fare, then walked to the corner store and picked up a few essentials-just enough to get by. After she was arrested three years ago, everything in her name got frozen. Now that she was out, at least she had enough to survive for a while. She hadn't been around people in so long that everything felt a little off. Even when a cashier raised their arm to scan an item, Natalie instinctively flinched. "Ma'am, are you okay?" the clerk asked kindly. Natalie blinked, then forced a smile and shook her head. "I'm fine." She wasn't. She was just used to being hit. As Natalie stepped out of the supermarket, her phone rang. It was her best friend, Lucy Bennett. The moment Lucy heard she'd been released, she could barely contain herself. "Natalie! I've been trying to get back for weeks! I was supposed to fly home early, but the typhoons totally messed up everything. Where are you right now? Are you still at the Collins place or...?" "I'm at Oakridge Estates." Lucy frowned. "Jackson didn't come get you? You're still married, aren't you? He should've-" "Lucy," Natalie cut in softly, tightening her grip on the phone. "I'm planning to divorce him." Before she went to prison, Lucy had been her closest friend. She'd warned her more than once-not to let her life revolve around a man or a child. She'd supported her walking away. But Natalie kept hoping. Kept believing Jackson would come around. Now, Lucy's throat tightened. "You... what exactly happened to you in there?" Her words trailed off. She used to visit Natalie all the time during the first year. But later, she got sent overseas on assignment to cover the war. Three years later, the woman who used to believe in holding on no matter what... had finally decided to let go. What the hell had happened? What had she been through to reach this point? Natalie didn't answer. But something in her expression-some flicker of pain and exhaustion-said enough. Lucy quickly changed the subject. "After you were arrested, Madam Hannah took over the Silverlake Heights property. She even turned it into a tourist spot. And Victoria... well, a lot's happened. I'll explain everything once I'm back." Natalie let out a slow breath and gave a quiet "okay." Her father had died the year after she got married. Then came the arrest. Her mother cried so much it broke her down-emotionally and physically. Natalie had begged Jackson-sobbed on the phone-for help. But no matter how long she waited... all she got was the news of her mother's death. And now even her family's property had been taken? Natalie's eyes darkened. Her face went quiet-cold and steady. The kind of calm that only comes when you've been through too much for too long. Three years in prison had changed everything. She had been broken, beaten down-but now, she wanted everything that was stolen from her back. And she would take her time doing it.