Love Rewind

Chapter 7

Over the next few days, Benjamin and I were in sync. Our personalities just clicked, and we quickly learned how to be thoughtful and considerate toward each other. In that short time, it felt like we were already soulmates.

Looking back, I couldn't help but realize how much time I had wasted chasing the wrong person for all those years.

Then, one afternoon, a friend messaged me to congratulate me:

[Natalie, after all these years of chasing Charles, you finally won his heart!]

[I heard your big day is coming up soon. I can't wait to raise a glass to your happiness!]

The Simmons family had a prestigious reputation, so the official wedding date wasn't announced until everything was set. At that point, most of our social circle still assumed I was marrying Charles.

I was surprised by the message, so I checked Charles's profile, which I had blocked previously. To my shock, he had changed everything, his profile picture, background, and pinned post were all filled with photos of me.

His status update read:

[The love of my life, only Natalie.]

It was clear he was trying to broadcast this to everyone in our circle.

But honestly, I didn't care anymore. In our past life, no matter how hard I begged, he never showed me any public affection. Now that I was finally out of his life, he was desperately trying to make amends? It was a cheap and meaningless display of love.

Later that afternoon, I was casually having lunch with some employees in the company cafeteria when Stella stormed in, pointing at me and screaming:

"Natalie! What kind of love potion did you give Charles?! Why is he suddenly all over you again? He even said he's canceling our wedding plans!"

"Why?! Why is it always you?! Go die, Natalie! Just go die!"

Before I could react, Stella grabbed someone's hot soup and tried to throw it at me.

But before the soup could hit me, Charles appeared out of nowhere, his back shielding me from the scalding liquid. Once he made sure I wasn't hurt, he whipped around, glaring at Stella with cold fury:

"How dare you cause a scene in front of Natalie?! You tried to hurt her, you crazy woman!"

Charles shoved Stella aside with such force that she stumbled and fell hard to the ground. Moments later, a large bloodstain spread across the floor.

Everyone in the cafeteria froze, eyes wide in shock.

"Oh my god... is she... is she having a miscarriage?" someone whispered.

Stella looked down in shock at the blood before bursting into sobs, pointing at Charles with shaking hands:

"You! You killed our baby with your own hands!"

Charles panicked, but it wasn't over the situation with Stella. His panic was directed at me. He turned to explain frantically:

"It's not what you think, Natalie! You saw for yourself, my passenger seat was full of condoms. There's no way she could be pregnant with my child!"

"She must have been sleeping around with someone else and got pregnant. That baby couldn't be mine!"

I shoved his hand away, disgusted.

"Just because you used protection doesn't mean you're clean," I said, shaking my head. "Charles Simmons, stop being so vile."

"I'll pay back every penny you spent on my medical bills, but as for the rest of your ridiculous claims, don't waste my time. I'm not interested in hearing it!"

I turned to walk away, but Charles tried to chase after me. However, he was immediately stopped by Stella, still clinging to him.

Stella, having completely lost any sense of dignity, went on a desperate campaign to cling to the Simmons family's wealth and status. She spread rumors around North Boston, claiming she'd been pregnant with Charles's child and that they'd planned to get married.

When the Simmons family heard this, they summoned Charles and punished him severely according to their family rules. His already-injured back received dozens of lashes.

After a private "education" session, the Simmons family decided not to acknowledge Stella's accusations publicly. But the damage was done. Stella quickly became the laughingstock of North Boston's elite. Old rumors about her mother being a mistress resurfaced, completely isolating her from high society.