Chapter 755

At that moment, Natalie found the entire situation utterly laughable. The man who had personally destroyed her career was now trying to pave the way for her, expecting her to be overcome with gratitude so they could just go back to the way things were.

"Please pass on my thanks to Director Olson, but I don't care for this role. I won't be taking it."

The crew member stared at her in shock. "Ms. Taylor, I... did I hear that right? You're rejecting it?"

This was the kind of role countless actresses couldn't even dream of landing.

"Yes. I won't be taking it."

Natalie gave the staff member a polite nod and strode out the door. She refused to accept any charity or assistance from Hamilton; she was determined to draw an absolute, permanent line between them.

But she hadn't made it far from the dressing room before Hamilton, who had been keeping a close eye on the area, spotted her. Leaving Maria behind, he hurried over to intercept her.

"I made a reservation. Let's get dinner tonight."

Natalie ignored him, continuing her brisk walk toward her car.

Hamilton grabbed her arm. "Natalie, you have to at least give me a chance to apologize and make things right. Don't I deserve that?"

Natalie frowned, trying to yank her arm away, but his grip was ironclad.

"Hamilton, there are people watching. Do you really want me to cause a scene?"

Hamilton took a deep breath. "If slapping me a few times will calm you down, go ahead. I'll let you."

Natalie jerked her hand back violently. She didn't hit him, but she took two distinct steps back, her face twisted in disgust.

"Hamilton, if you're a man, drop this pathetic 'repentant prodigal' act. It makes me sick."

"Natalie, you still love me! I know you do!"

"Oh? And what exactly did I do to give you that delusion?"

Hamilton's face turned green, then pale, as he forcefully pushed down his rising temper. "I just want to clear up the misunderstandings between us."

"There are no misunderstandings between us, which means there's nothing to clear up."

With that, Natalie turned to leave again, but this time, Maria blocked her path, her face twisted with absolute hatred.

"You've all been fooled by Natalie! This whole 'strong, independent woman' act, all this fake kindness and integrity—it's nothing but a carefully constructed persona! In reality, she's a fraud!"

Maria screamed the words at the top of her lungs. Since they were on a film set, there were hundreds of actors and crew members around, not to mention a slew of paparazzi who immediately swarmed closer at the scent of drama.

"Her!" Maria pointed a trembling finger at Natalie, her features contorted with venom. "The only reason she managed to marry Hamilton is because she stole my identity! She was never innocent. She's a manipulative, despicable liar!"

Natalie had been ready to walk away—and easily could have—but instead, she stopped, planting her feet and facing Maria's unhinged fury head-on.

"Natalie, I'm going to expose your true colors! I'm going to ruin your reputation so completely that you'll never work in this industry again!"

"Maria, that's enough!" Hamilton barked, stepping in to stop her. "Don't forget the promise you made me!"

met

"Yes, I promised not to expose her pathetic little lies! But you also promised to take care of me, to protect me forever-and then you turned around and gave my role to her! Hallamilton after all these years, you're still playing the exact same game. First, you stole her roles and gave them to me, and now you're stealing mine to give to her! Why? Why do you get to dictate everything?!"

"I said, that's enough!"

"It's not enough!" Tears of frustration welled in Maria's eyes. "I was the one who saved you! I was the one you were supposed to marry! If she hadn't stolen my identity, we would have been happily married years ago! And you wouldn't be treating me like this! You know how much I love you, yet you still break my heart without a second thought!"

Hamilton's fury-boiled over. He

shoved Maria toward his car,

motioning for his driver to take her

away. But Maria thrashed violently, screaming over and over that Natalie was a fraud and thato

everything Natalie had today rightfully belonged to her?Content

The surrounding crowd stared in eager curiosity, whispering aggressively to one

another, while a few even held their phones high in the air, recording the entire spectacle.