My Love Was His Cure (Natalie and Blake) novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Natalie turned off her phone and locked herself in the study, drawing nonstop.

She knew that if she turned in her draft sooner, she could leave sooner.

For three straight days, the maid kept persuading Natalie to stop, worried that she'd hurt her injured hands again, but she didn't step out of the room.

Felix hadn't come home either. He called once to say he was away on business.

Mabel, meanwhile, kept uploading photos. The scenery didn't look like anywhere in America.

Felix was with her, giving her flowers, holding her hand, peeling shrimp, cutting steak, and feeding her fruit.

When Natalie cared for Felix during his injury, he had told her, "Thanks for everything. When my sight comes back, I'll do everything couples do and spoil you like a princess."

He even said, "If you want the stars or the moon, I'll get them for you."

But after he fully recovered, he drugged her and took her bone marrow.

Natalie laughed bitterly at the memory.

On the day she turned in her design draft, the jeweler invited her to dinner. Some of the items up for auction were her earlier works.

She didn't expect to run into Felix, Mabel, and Eddie there.

Felix's expression shifted when he saw her.

"Natalie, you should be resting at home. I didn't think you'd come, so I was planning to send you photos," he said.

Natalie noticed the jewelry Mabel wore.

It was the wedding set she had designed herself—necklace, earrings, bracelet, even the rings.

While working on the design, she and Felix went through many ideas. They started with eyes, then the sun, and finally chose the iris because it stood for light.

When Felix's vision came back, he lifted the design sketch, spun her around with excitement, and said, "Natalie, you're the light in my life! I'll ask a top craftsman overseas to make it perfectly for us."

He had actually traveled overseas to retrieve it.

The final piece was better than Natalie had expected.

But the person receiving it had changed.

Mabel smiled proudly. "Natalie, since you're a jewelry designer, could you help me look at this set?"

She added quickly, "Just so you know, Felix gave them to me. If you criticize them, he might not like it."

Natalie drew in a steadying breath.

She had pictured the wedding Felix once described many times, but now it would never happen.

The jewelry no longer held the same meaning.

Still, she smiled politely. "It's lovely. It looks great on you."

Felix felt guilty and tried to explain, "Natalie, I..."

Before he could say more, Mabel clung to his arm with a shy smile.

"Felix, you've got great taste. Even Natalie agrees it fits me."

Eddie also wrapped himself around Felix's legs, speaking sweetly.