Billionaire's Regret: Losing Me And Our Son - Chapter 215: Chapter 215

York's arrival was like a lifeline thrown to a drowning woman, rescuing what little dignity I had left.
I couldn't bear to face Raelynn's surprised or pitying gaze, nor did I want to hear Quinn tell me again that if he ever had to choose between Clarissa and me, it would never be me.
Cowardly as it might have been, avoidance worked wonders.
'At least for now,' I thought, watching Quinn's car disappear in the rearview mirror. 'I can finally breathe again.'
I gave a self-deprecating smile. When I came to my senses, I noticed York watching me with meaningful intensity.
"Thanks for helping me out just now, York," I murmured. "You must be here to pick up Miss Vance, so I won't interrupt you two."
I was about to get out when York suddenly hit the central locking button.
I froze, staring at York in confusion. "Is there something else?"
"I never accept mere words of thanks." York arched an eyebrow, then suddenly leaned in to fasten my seatbelt. Sitting upright, he started the car with deliberate calm and said, "She's working late tonight. The restaurant's already booked—so this is your chance to pick up the tab."
'That was blunt of him!' I thought.
"I never would have thought that June, of all people—that hopeless romantic—would actually stand York up at the last minute for a shoot."
I couldn't help but see June in a whole new light after that.
York sped through the streets, heading toward the boutique fusion restaurant he'd booked.
The host led us to a table by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the view section. Through the glass, we could see the fountain and the city lights outside.
After a long, exhausting day, I sank into the plush sofa, gazing at the mist outside the window, my thoughts drifting away.
"Are you settling in at Maple Media?" York asked me softly.
"Hmm?" I murmured, my eyes still a bit dazed. Slowly coming to my senses, I replayed his question in my mind, then countered with a teasing smile, "With such an easy job arranged by you, Mr. Smith, how could I not settle in so comfortably?"
His thin lips parted as he asked, "Would you like me to assign someone else to take over the 'Starry River' project?"
I instantly grasped York's meaning—he was worried that once Clarissa joined the production team, it might interfere with my work on the project.
"York, are you underestimating my professionalism, or are you just pulling my leg?" I frowned and asked him.
"Just looking out for a sister," York said impassively.
I froze, unaccustomed to York's sudden concern.
"Past experience tells me that everything York does comes with strong ulterior motives."
But this time, when I looked up and met his unusually gentle gaze, I found myself momentarily disoriented.
'After all we've been through, maybe York really believes I have no designs on the Smith family fortune. Is that why he's finally willing to treat me like real family?'
That thought flashed through my mind.
York sighed with an amused smile. "Why that look? I may not be your biggest fan, but I can't stand seeing my own sister get pushed around by some other guy."
My heart skipped a beat—there was more to York's words than met the eye.
"What exactly are you trying to say, York?" I asked in a low, steady voice.
He paused briefly, then cut straight to the chase: "Julia—that name still ring a bell?"
A heavy shadow crossed my face as I nodded.
Julia, mother of Clarissa and her sister, was the nanny who practically raised Quinn as her own.
"Julia will be released from prison in three months. That's why Clarissa returned—to pick her up when she's out. If I recall correctly, today is Julia's visiting day," York told me solemnly.
My chest tightened painfully as it hit me—Quinn had come today specifically to pick up Clarissa, just so they could visit Julia together.
For a moment, I couldn't tell if Quinn doted on Clarissa, relied on Julia, or perhaps... it was both.
York narrowed his eyes and said solemnly, "For a man like Quinn to go to such lengths—it speaks volumes about how important Julia and her daughter are to him."
His words cut deep.
I pressed my lips together and remained silent for a long while before saying coolly, "I don't care about any of that. Please don't ever tell me anything about Quinn's private affairs again."
"Quinn has kept so many secrets from me," I thought, "but the last thing I want is to hear about them from someone else."
York frowned at me and said, "Natalia, you're just fooling yourself."
I gazed at York coldly and said sharply, "You're right—I am deceiving myself. But what concern is that of yours? York, who gave you the right to judge my life?"
His frown grew deeper, those penetrating eyes locking onto me with unwavering intensity.
Now that we've come this far, I can't hold it in any longer. I glared at York and said, "Do you really think you're so high-and-mighty? Can you honestly say you're with Miss Vance because you're truly in love with her?"
As a woman—and someone who had known York for so long—I could tell from day one that he wasn't truly in love with June.
Back then, I thought June was just a hopeless romantic—maybe just being with York was happiness enough for her.
Now that I'd seen June's dedication and hard work firsthand, I realize she's an outstanding woman—she didn't deserve to be strung along like this.
York said Quinn lied to me, but he was deceiving June just the same.
As my words hung in the air, York's furrowed brows suddenly smoothed out. Then, his peach-blossom eyes crinkled at the corners as he let out an involuntary chuckle.
"Are you standing up for her?" York interjected calmly. "Natalia, I've told you before—not everyone needs love. My relationship with June is simply a mutual benefit arrangement. She wanted to be my girlfriend, so I granted her wish. And throughout our relationship, I've maintained complete honesty and loyalty toward her."
"Can Quinn say the same to you?" he shot back.
'Honesty and loyalty...' York's confident words hit me like a slap, leaving me speechless.
The phone rang—it was the nanny.
I quickly answered the call, and the nanny's panicked voice came through, "Mrs. Hinton, come home now! Someone's causing trouble at the house—Benedict is scared to tears!"
"What's going on?" I demanded urgently.
Through the phone, I could still make out Benedict's faint, distressed sobs.
The nanny couldn't explain clearly over the phone. She just said Benedict had a conflict with a classmate at school this afternoon. Now the classmate's parents are at our door, insisting Benedict hurt their child and demanding an apology.
"I'll be right there! Keep Benedict safe!"
After hanging up, it hit me—I hadn't driven here today.
Rush hour traffic was still gridlocked outside, making it impossible to hail a cab.
"What's wrong?" York grabbed my arm as I abruptly stood up in panic and rushed toward the door.
"Benedict's in danger!" I blurted out urgently. "York, drive me home now!"