Chapter 696

Chapter 696Natalie's sudden question stumped Catherine. Believing that the woman was intentionally humiliating
her, Catherine's face took on a menacing look. In a nasty tone, she demanded, “Are you saying that
you won't agree, then?”
“That's right.” Natalie nodded, unfazed.
Th€ connection to th€ §ource of thïš dat@ r€§t$ in n0v3lebookThat answer made Catherine sniff disdainfully. “I didn't expect that you would be quite so petty. Why did
Shane even fall in love with you?”
“You'll have to ask Shane that yourself. That isn't the only question you'll have to ask him, though. You
can try persuading him to lay off Sean. The one who's bent on getting Sean is Shane, after all, not me.
I'm afraid I can't be of much use,” Natalie said calmly, taking a sip of tea.
Catherine scowled at her resentfully. “You're Shane's wife! He'll listen to you.”
“I'm sorry, Mrs. Thompson. I don't want to,” Natalie replied frankly.
Sean's mother's chest heaved in agitation. “You really won't agree to it?” she repeated.
“That's right,” Natalie replied patiently.
“You...” Catherine choked in anger.
At that moment, a gentle voice floated over, saying, “Ms. Smith, Mrs. Thompson is your aunt! How
could you be so rude to her?”
Natalie whipped around in the speaker's direction only to see Jacqueline strolling down the stairs and
crossing the room toward them.The former's face instantly grew dark. Grimly, she retorted, “Ms. Graham, this is none of your
business.”
“It's none of my business, but I can't stand by idly and watch you talk to Mrs. Thompson like this,”
Jacqueline replied with a toss of her head. “It's been a while, Mrs. Thompson,” she murmured as she
approached Catherine.
Catherine looked at Jacqueline with a puzzled expression on her face. “Who are you?”
“I'm Jacqueline. Don't you remember me?” the woman asked cheerfully.
The look of confusion on Catherine's face cleared instantly. “It's you! I heard that you had regained
consciousness but didn't know if it was true. Why are you here now, though?”
“I'm staying at Shane's temporarily,” Jacqueline replied.
Comprehension dawned upon Catherine. “So that's the case. I always thought Shane would end up
marrying you. It's a pity that someone else came in between Shane and you. I would very much prefer
to have a daughter-in-law like you in the Thompson family.”
Having proclaimed thus, Catherine seized Jacqueline's hand and gave her a winning smile.
It was exactly the same manner in which she had greeted Natalie earlier.
Natalie was unruffled. She knew Catherine was goading her on purpose because she'd been unwilling
to acquiesce to the woman's multiple pleas for help.
The lack of subtlety, however, annoyed her. She rolled her eyes but continued to sip on her water
nonchalantly.Feigning embarrassment, Jacqueline looked apologetically at Natalie and hastily said, “Ms. Smith, I'm
sure Mrs. Thompson didn't mean to offend you. I'm in a relationship with Jackie now and have no
designs on Shane. Please don't take Mrs. Thompson's comments to heart.”
“I didn't. She can't hurt me anyway. No matter what, I'm still the one Shane married,” Natalie replied,
smiling sweetly at Jacqueline.
At that, a savage look appeared in Jacqueline's eyes. She returned Natalie's smile forcefully and said,
“That's true.”
Jacqueline turned back to Catherine and said meekly, “Mrs. Thompson, I didn't get to overhear much of
your conversation just now. Did you ask Ms. Smith a favor only to have her reject you?”
“That's true. I've never met anyone as cold-hearted as her,” Catherine scoffed with an injured air,
darting a bitter look at Natalie.
Natalie paid no heed to them and took out her phone, scrolling carelessly through it.
Seeing that her words had no effect on Natalie, Catherine glared at her with a hateful look in her eyes.
As Jacqueline watched the drama play out before her eyes, the corners of her mouth curled up cattily
in satisfaction.
She was delighted to see Natalie and Catherine at such odds with each other.
Even though Natalie had managed to marry Shane in the end, she had not won the battle entirely until
his family gave their blessing.
If the Thompson family continued ostracizing Natalie, the woman would not be able to endure staying
in that household for long.Pleased at the thought of Natalie's impending failure, Jacqueline turned to Catherine and said heartily,
“Mrs. Thompson, why don't you tell me what it is? I'll try to ask Shane on your behalf.”
“That's right!” Catherine's eyes lit up. “Jacqueline, you were once Shane's childhood sweetheart. I
imagine that you'd have the best relationship with him! It's a pity that you didn't end up marrying each
other, but let's not bring that up again. Jacqueline, you have to help me.”