An Affair With The Ceo (Natasha and Jared) novel Chapter 353

Chapter 353

Chapter 353

Who’s jealous?” Natasha instinctively retorted. “I’m not!”

“Really?” Jared narrowed his eyes at her.

Natasha forced herself to stay calm and nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

Jared suddenly walked over and sat down beside her.

He gently lifted her chin, locking eyes with her at close range.

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“But why do I feel like someone’s jealousy is about to overflow?” Jared teased with a lazy smile, his deep eyes full of playful

interest.

Natasha’s cheeks flushed.

She felt a wave of embarrassment, like her secret had just been exposed.

Jared gave her chin a playful shake and chuckled softly. “You’re not being honest.”

Natasha shot back instinctively, “How am I not being honest?”

Jared gazed at her intently. “Why can’t you just admit you’re jealous?”

‘Why is it so hard for her to admit she actually cares about me?’ he wondered.

Natasha’s gaze wavered.

Sometimes, she didn’t even know how to face her feelings for Jared.

A surge of frustration suddenly washed over her.

“I have nothing to admit. Just stop pushing me, okay?” Natasha snapped.

She quickly hid her feelings, stood up, and walked away.

Jared quickly caught up to her.

They left the restaurant together.

Outside, they got tangled up in a heated exchange for a while, until a sudden gasp broke the silence.

Natasha turned to look.

It was Lizzie.

She watched Natasha and Jared getting all cozy, her eyes flashing with complicated emotions.

But Jared just shot her a cold glance and didn’t pay her any attention at all.

He wrapped his arm around Natasha and ushered her straight into his car.

Through the rear window of the luxury car, Natasha could see the hurt plainly showing on Lizzie’s pale face.

Lizzie stood there, watching their car disappear down the road.

Natasha pulled her gaze back, her eyes lingering on Jared.

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Chapter 353

His profile was striking, and he looked brooding and aloof.

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Natasha couldn’t help but think, ‘If he ever stopped caring about me one day, I’d probably be left out in the cold, just like Lizzie is now.

‘He has always been a cold, ruthless man. It’s just that he holds a special fondness for me now, and I’m his exception. But how long can this favor last?’

At Whittier Group.

It was lunchtime.

Natasha went downstairs to grab some coffee.

Suddenly, someone called out to her. “Ms. Whittier!”

Natasha turned her head to look, only to find it was Lizzie.

Surprise flashed in Natasha’s eyes.

But she gave Lizzie a polite nod anyway.

“Long time no see! Got some time? How about grabbing a cup of coffee together?” Lizzie said with a smile.

Natasha had more than an hour before she needed to head back to work.

She had plenty of time to get coffee with Lizzie.

“Alright,” Natasha replied.

She could tell Lizzie had something she wanted to talk about.

Natasha hesitated for a moment but agreed anyway.

The two of them walked into the coffee shop together and picked a table tucked away inside to sit down.

“The Lipsey family has been meeting with the Rundell family a lot lately. Looks like they’re trying to set up Timothea with Jared.” Lizzie shared the news with Natasha.

Natasha’s reaction was very calm.

“Mm,” she replied.

Lizzie leaned in, testing the waters. “So, are you seeing Jared now?”

Natasha arched a brow. “Yeah, and?”

Lizzie pressed, “You seriously don’t want to marry him?”

Natasha’s answer totally threw her.

“Nope, Natasha said.

Lizzie stared at her in disbelief. “You…”

Lizzie couldn’t help but suspect Natasha was lying.

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Chapter 353

Natasha stayed calm. “I’m well aware of the gap between us. There’s no way I’d ever marry him.”

Lizzie was stunned for a moment, then smiled in relief.

“You’re so clear-headed, no wonder Jared’s into you,” Lizzie said.

Honestly, up until now, Lizzie had always seen Natasha as her romantic rival.

But now, she quite liked her.

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‘Not many people are that self-aware, Lizzie thought. ‘Especially for someone like Natasha, who’s got both the background and the resources.

‘But to still know when to step forward or hold back, and keep her boundaries, that’s even rarer.

Natasha gave a wry smile. “I’m just being realistic.”

‘Anyone in my position would have no choice but to do the same, Natasha thought.

Lizzie shook her head. “If it were me, I don’t think I could do it.”

If she were Jared’s girlfriend, there was no way she’d stand by and watch him marry another woman and not do anything.

Natasha said, “Everyone’s situation is different, so of course their choices will be too.”

If she were like Lizzie, a legit heiress, queen of the social scene, she would never give her boyfriend up to someone else so easily.

But she wasn’t.

She was just an illegitimate daughter, someone whose existence had to stay hidden in the shadows.

What could she possibly offer to make her lover stay?

Even if Jared were willing to go through hell and back for her, he’d still have to pay a price.

And she didn’t want him to lose anything or give up his own interests just because of her.

Lizzie said, “But he’s into you. Can’t you fight for your relationship, for your future together?”

Natasha froze for a second, and her eyes grew sour with emotion.

Of course, she wanted to fight for him.

But reality kept throwing obstacles in her path, and she couldn’t ignore them.

“What do I have to fight for him? As for you, if you still have feelings for Jared, you should go and compete with Timothea yourself,” Natasha said, meeting Lizzie’s eyes.

‘After all, with Lizzie’s family background, she could actually stand her ground against Timothea. But me? I’m not even on the same footing as them, Natasha thought bitterly.

Lizzie let out a sigh. “You think I don’t want to go after him? But I’ve already woken up to the truth. Jared’s never going to love me, and there’s absolutely no way he’d ever marry me.”

It was not like Lizzie didn’t want to go toe-to-toe with Timothea.

With her family background, she could totally fight Timothea for the spot as Mrs. Rundell.

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Chapter 353

But even if she managed to win, so what?

She’d just be stuck with a guy who didn’t love her at all.

At this point, she finally saw things clearly.

She genuinely liked Jared in the past.

But after she realized Jared didn’t like her at all, she made herself choose the rational path.

Even if she could win him over just because of her family background, she’d never have his heart.

Lizzie wasn’t someone without principles, nor was she the type to blindly chase after a man with no self-respect.

After repeatedly testing the waters, she realized Jared never had any feelings for her.

Keeping at it would only leave her hurting herself again and again.

Jared never really took her seriously.

Natasha looked at her, genuinely surprised. “You…”

She thought Lizzie was here to pick a fight with her today.

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But reading between the lines, Lizzie was actually telling her to hold onto Jared. And as for Lizzie herself, she was ready to bow out of the game.

Natasha couldn’t tell if Lizzie really meant it.

“I’m done competing with you for Jared. From now on. I’m choosing myself,” Lizzie confessed, her voice steady and sincere.

Natasha was genuinely surprised.

Lizzie added, “But honestly, between you and Timothea, I’d much rather see you and Jared make it to the end together.

“After all, he was someone I once cared about, and I just hope he finds the woman he truly loves. That way, my letting go would actually be worth it.”

If Jared really goes through with a family alliance marriage, then what’s the point of me stepping back?’ Lizzie thought to herself.

Natasha gave a bitter smile. “Whether I get to stay with him or not is not something I get to decide.”