My Billionaire Ex-Husband Chase Me Back - Chapter 305

Chapter 305: Natalie’s Reasons Why She Stayed in Her Toxic Marriage
“Yes, dear?”

“I need to give my mom a house tour. Can you play with Dax so I can be with mom alone?”

Knowing his plan to distract his mother had worked, Dax’s smile widened, but he relaxed for only a second, worrying his mother might squeeze him again.

Then, Dax looked at his father, waiting for his reaction. As if sending a warning to his father, “Dare to refuse, and I will take my revenge, Dad—”

Tristan smiled at Dax before responding to Bella, “Sure, dear. You can go now.” He rubbed her cheek lovingly before continuing, “But don’t take too long, darling. Don’t forget I also miss my wife.” His eyes looked at her warmly.

Bella rolled her eyes when she saw his sultry gaze, like a fire burning in them.

She immediately stood and approached her mother and the others.

****

Bella smiled at the two older men before her, who were frowning at her.

“Stop scaring my mother with your past stories and recent news. Can’t you see it? My mother is almost crying.” Bella said it in a casual tone. Still, the two elders looked surprised to hear that.

They both turned their gaze, looking at Natalie. They felt guilty when they noticed her eyes were blurry and realized how insensitive they had been. She was indeed almost crying.

“Sorry, Natalie darling,” Isaac said, stroking his mustache. He felt terrible for reminding his daughter-in-law of his useless son. Even though Lucas is his own son, he supports Natalie’s plan to divorce him.

“Ugh, dear Natalie, I’m really sorry. This old man might’ve said too much,” Lewis chimed in.

Natalie was speechless. She felt amused looking at the two older men before her who felt guilty.

“Hahaha, Father, Uncle Lewis, I’m fine—” Natalie said awkwardly before turning her gaze to Bella.

“All right, Mom, let’s go check your place to stay,” Bella said while holding her mother’s hand. “Grandpa, please excuse us—”

***

After speaking with Tristan last night and requesting a place for her mother, Bella was pleased to hear that he had provided her mother with a small house at the back of their property.

Tristan had asked his team to quickly clean and rearrange the furniture in the house so her mother could stay there starting today. She was grateful that the house was ready a few hours ago, just before their plane landed.

Bella and Natalie walked side by side towards the back wing of the main house.

As they approached the small gray stone house, decorated with many beautiful flowers in the yard and a lake just a few meters away offering views of the dense forest in the distance, Natalie couldn’t help but be enchanted by its charm.

“Oh dear Bella, why do I feel like I just landed in heaven now? This place is incredibly wonderful. It is not only beautiful, but it also feels serene. I feel like I’m in the middle of the forest.” Natalie was so happy she could finally spend the rest of her life in this stunning place.

Bella, who was about to open the house door, stopped and looked at her mother.

Her smile widened before saying, “Yes, Mom, this place is insanely beautiful. That’s why we chose to live here. It’s far from the hustle and bustle of the city, but we only need a few minutes to drive to the city center and all its perks.”

Natalie followed Bella into the house.

“Thank you, my daughter, for allowing me to stay with you and your family in this place.” Natalie couldn’t stop expressing her gratitude. She felt blessed because her daughter and son-in-law provided her with privacy in this beautiful little house.

“Mom, it’s my duty to repay you,” Bella said casually, but her words were enough to make Natalie’s eyes blur with tears; she felt touched to hear that.

Bella failed to notice her mother’s sadness as she sat on the sofa. She watched her mother pacing around the not-so-large family room and the compact modern kitchen at the end of the room, which overlooked the lake.

However, it didn’t take long before Bella was taken aback by her mother’s sudden gloomy expression.

She sighed deeply and said, “Oh, please, Mom, stop crying, could you? You need to smile now; no more sadness, right?”

While trying to wipe the tears from her cheek, Natalie said, “My daughter, I feel ashamed and regret my actions in the past. And now, hearing that you have forgiven me even though I don’t deserve it makes me feel even more ashamed.”

“You are wrong, Mom. You did a great job raising and protecting me despite the hardship you had to endure.”

“But, daughter—” Natalie lost her words and whimpered silently.

“I’m a mother now, too, so I understand how difficult it was for you to raise me when my father was biased towards my brother Henry. I know you only followed my father to protect me from his anger.”

Natalie’s tears filled her eyes as she listened to her daughter’s words, realizing that not everything she believed was true.

When Bella started her teenage years, Natalie found it more difficult and hazardous to defend Bella when Lucas took out his anger on his own daughter.

Natalie still feels that she failed as Bella’s mother. She was too afraid of Lucas, who constantly threatened to kick Bella out of the Donovan family if she sided with Bella or asked for a divorce. She stayed with Lucas because she didn’t want Bella’s life to be miserable if her father disowned her.

“Thank you, my daughter,” Natalie Wright said softly, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks.

“Oh yes, I forgot to mention,” Bella tried to divert the gloomy conversation. She didn’t want to see her mother cry again. “Mom, this house has two bedrooms. So, I asked Aunty Noora to live with you. But if you object—”

“No. No. I’m glad to hear that Noora will stay with me. Better to have someone to talk with than not, right!?” Natalie’s smile bloomed; she was genuinely happy to know that.

“Perfect then…” Bella felt relieved. She didn’t want her mother to feel lonely in this new place.