It was risky to move without company at this critical time however Natalie still slipped out, cautious as ever. She had to meet Ruth and as much as the guards wouldn't spill her conversation, she still couldn't trust them considering they answer to her husband, Eric. He can't know what she did. What if he comes to hate her because of her actions? She can't let that happen.
Hence she lost them on purpose but unlike before, she knew Eric was going to begin to suspect her. Yes, she was entitled to her privacy but the period was dangerous and those men were for her safety. He knew her well enough to know that she was hiding a secret. Natalie was hoping that he would turn a blind eye like he did in the past.
She packed her car and stepped out, already spotting Ruth waiting outside her car. The parking lot was silent with no one around but Natalie had no doubt Ruth's men were around the corner to keep her protected. She never moves alone.
Natalie strode over and when she was standing in front of the woman, said to her, "The target was Daniel! Why did you get that poor woman involved….!" She lowered her voice to a hiss, "She almost died!"
"There are casualties even in wars. The men I sent after Daniel never intended to harm her, she was the one who threw herself in harm's way," Ruth answered defensively.
Natalie let out a shaky breath, running her hand through her hair as she paced up and down the space before turning to her, saying," I can't even face her. She's paralyzed for the rest of our life and the guilt is eating me from the inside out anytime I look at her. The worst part is that they even thanked me for saving her life when I'm the one that put her in that position. God, how can I…?! "
Ruth gripped her shoulder and shook her hard, "Get a grip of yourself, Natalie! You did nothing wrong. Daniel put her in that position by inviting her to his place when he knew how dangerous it was. I heard Richardo sent his people after him. They would have still harmed her. It was inevitable." She scolded her.
"No, it was still -"
"And then what? What are you going to do? Go and confess to her and ask for forgiveness? You think that is possible? How would your daughter react to that?"
Ruth's reaction changed as she said, "I told you from the start, Natalie. I can't be implicated in this. I did it for you, to give you the revenge that you deserve after so many years."
"But Daniel is alive and she's in that miserable condition!" Natalie lashed out.
"And is Daniel's fault, at least everyone believes that and that is his punishment. He put the woman he likes in harm's way, you think Angelica would thank him for that? Now, he gets a taste of what he put you through, liking the woman who loathes me. I'll say that's karma, don't you think so?"
Natalie did not answer. While Ruth was right somehow, the guilt still gnawed at her heart. She had seen the sadness in Angelica's eyes when they told her she might be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. But not if she helps her….
At once, Natalie's eyes shone with hope. She could achieve penance by looking for a way to get her back on her feet. She needed a cure for Angelica's condition, only then would she be free from this suffocating guilt. The woman was innocent.
Ruth broke her train of thought when she said, "You should keep this secret to the grave. Now, this is the last time the both of us would meet, I have paid off my debt to Arianna. Perhaps, unless the situation demands otherwise, until then, goodbye Natalie. I hope you get the happiness you deserve now. "
Natalie thought she was joking, having dismissed their meeting abruptly, however, Ruth's headlight flashed and that was when she recognized that someone had been there all this while. The windows were simply tinted with the light turned off and she was not able to see a thing. Within her watchful gaze, Ruth got into the car, but not without giving her one last look, and left.
She was left alone in the parking lot and Natalie had no choice but to get into her car and drive off as well. It was late at night and standing there would only make her prey to anyone who might have bad intentions towards her - Richardo's people or not.
Natalie intended to have a rest when she got home. She was tired mentally and needed to catch a little sleep, only to come home to Arianna's hysterics. The first thing she noticed was the sheer number of guards posted in the living room and Arianna marching to her with tears in her eyes.
"Richardo has Marcel! They were hiding the secret from me" Arianna cried out, more like shouted in her face.
"Oh," That explained why she was like this then. "I'm so sorry, Arianna."
But she retorted, "Sorry won't solve this. I need to get to him."
"How? You would only put yourself in trouble, not to mention you would be a distraction to the others who are probably working hard on rescuing him."
However, Arianna was beyond reasoning as she screamed, "I just need to see him! Richardo wants me anyway, not him! Who knows whether he's even dead or alive… God, this is driving me crazy!"
Arianna was an emotional mess and the fact she was pregnant seems not to have helped the situation.
"You have to think of yourself, baby girl. Come here." Natalie beckoned her to come into her arms and she wrapped her arms around her when Arianna did so.
Arianna broke down in tears, muttering how Marcel needed her and she needed to do something. Unknown to her, this was a trap and Natalie had already seen Ezra at the corner with an injection. So while she covered her view, Natalie swiftly received the injection from him and jabbed it into her throat before she could suspect a thing.
Arianna had the look of one betrayed when she realized what happened. She quickly pushed away from her mother with a murderous look, "You-!"
But it was too late, the medicine was a fast reacting one, and her vision swarmed. The next, she was falling to the ground but Ezra quickly caught her.
"Good call," Natalie praised the smug Ezra for his decision.
She said, "Keep an eye on her, she's not in her right mind at the moment. Also, handle her with care, she's a pregnant woman. She can't leave here, at least until we know if Marcel is dead, or alive."
