Billionaire's Regret: Losing Me And Our Son - Chapter 84: Chapter 84

As the reporters disappeared from view, I let out a sigh of relief and turned to stare blankly at Quinn, who was focused on the road ahead.
Perhaps sensing my gaze, he spoke in a calm tone. "Someone deliberately leaked the news to the press."
I wasn't surprised. What puzzled me was how he knew about it and how he managed to show up in time to help me.
A heavy feeling settled in my chest. After a moment of silence, I mustered the courage to ask, "It was Diana who tipped off the reporters, wasn't it?"
If my hunch was right, Quinn had been keeping tabs on her all along, monitoring her every move.
He didn't deny it. His eyes remained fixed on the road, his face showing a hint of exhaustion.
Taking a deep breath, I pressed on. "She's also the one who instigated Skylar to humiliate me at the party. You didn't manage to stop her.
"Or maybe... you've been enabling her all along. You're afraid she'll go too far, so you always swoop in just in time to clean up her mess."
"Am I right, Quinn?" My voice trembled, and I struggled to suppress the bitterness rising within me.
I should have seen this coming.
"Natalia..." He furrowed his brows and said my name in that deep, alluring voice that once captivated me. Now, it only made my stomach churn.
I cut him off with an exasperated laugh. "We're divorced, Quinn. Why are you still meddling in my life?" I said sharply. "If you're so devoted to Diana, you should marry her. Do you realize that every time you show up, you're only hurting me?
"When the reporters asked if we were getting back together, you should have made it clear—we will never get back together."
I continued, "I don't want to be a part of your life anymore. So do me a favor—tell Diana and everyone—that we're through, and leave me alone."
I had said so much in one breath that I could barely calm myself. Closing my eyes, I leaned back in my seat, trying to steady my breathing.
Quinn stayed silent for a moment before speaking, his voice cold and cutting. "You're in such a hurry to be rid of me. Is it because you've already found someone else?"
His words struck a nerve, and I lost my cool. "Quinn, do you even hear yourself?" I asked incredulously. "Yes, I loved you once. I forced you to marry me and took you away from Diana. But I've paid for my mistakes, haven't I?
"Look at everything Diana has done to me. Do you think it's not enough? What more do you want from me? What will it take for you to leave me alone?"
The car screeched to a halt, and the air inside was charged with tension. Quinn stared at me with piercing eyes.
In the enclosed space, all I could hear was his sharp breaths, heavy with anger. My heart raced as I wondered what he would do next.
After a tense silence, he narrowed his eyes and bellowed, "Get out."
Without hesitation, I unbuckled the seatbelt, pushed open the door, and stepped out. The moment I closed the door, he slammed on the gas, and the car sped away, disappearing into the distance.
I stood there in the middle of the road, the cold wind biting at my skin. The chill outside was nothing compared to the hollowness in my heart.
In his eyes, I was nothing more than someone at his beck and call, obeying his every command and enduring his cruelty. This must have been exactly what Quinn wanted from me.
He refused to let me go, and the irony was, I couldn't seem to forget him no matter how hard I tried.
Snapping out of my stupor, I booked a cab and returned to my apartment.
The next morning, I woke up to several missed calls from Elijah. As I debated whether to return his calls, my phone rang. This time, it was Aiden.
I answered, and his anxious voice came through. "Natalia, Jenna passed away early this morning."
I froze. For a moment, I thought I had misheard him.
When I arrived at the funeral home, the memorial hall was already filled with relatives and guests.
Standing by the casket, Elijah's head bowed as tears streamed down his face. He looked frail, as if he had aged years overnight. Skylar stood next to him, sobbing uncontrollably.
I stood by the door, staring in a daze, unable to move. The scene before me felt surreal. Jenna was gone. She was only fifty.
Fragments of childhood memories resurfaced in my mind. I hated her, but there had been a time when I genuinely loved and respected her.
"Natalia," a soft voice came from behind. I turned to see Shirley, dressed in a sleek black suit, her gaze gentle. "You're here. You should say goodbye to her."
With a vacant look in my eyes, I nodded, but my feet refused to budge.
Sensing my hesitation, Shirley slipped her arm through mine and whispered, "Come on, I'll go with you."
Her warm touch gave me strength, and together, we walked up to the casket.
"My condolences," Shirley said as she offered a bouquet.
"Thank you for being here today to honor Jenna." Elijah wiped his tears, and when he met my eyes, surprise flickered across his face, quickly replaced by a weary, conflicted look. "I didn't expect you to come."
I pursed my lips before explaining softly, "My phone was on silent last night—I missed your calls."
"Since you're here, pay your respects. Despite everything, she was the one who raised you," Elijah said in a feeble voice.
I nodded. Jenna was gone. Whatever grudges we had were now meaningless. I bowed my head in prayer, wishing her peace as she found her rest.
As I straightened up, I felt a presence behind me. Before I could react, something struck my back. I let out a cry as a scorching pain shot through me.
"I'm sorry, the candle slipped from my hand," came Skylar's insincere apology. She glared at me with swollen eyes, her expression filled with malice. It was clear as day—she had done it on purpose.
The sting in my back intensified, growing sharper with each passing second. When I reached back to touch it, my fingers grazed the singed fabric, and I realized the candle had burned my skin.
"Natalia, are you okay?" Shirley rushed over, her face pale with concern. "Come on, let me take you to the car. I have a first-aid kit." She led me out of the hall and into her car.
Shirley took out a first aid kit and quickly found the ointment for burns. "This topical cream is very effective; it'll heal quickly and won't leave a scar," she said reassuringly, gently lifting my shirt to check the wound.
However, she paused and stared at my back. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Natalia, is this red spot on your back a birthmark?"