CEO's Passion: Love by Mistake

The phone call was from Yulia.

“Mom,” Natalie greeted and pressed her cell phone against her ear while she rolled the car window down.

“Baby girl, I'm returning tomorrow,” Yulia said over the phone.

Immediately, Natalie's back stiffened. “Tomorrow?”

“What happened? It seems like you don't want me to return,” Yulia narrowed her eyes as she spoke.

“What do you mean? Mom, stop joking around.” Natalie forced out a laugh while her gaze darted in a panic.

“Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Harrison, that old fool, has already sent the subpoena overseas. As a result, I've been

forced to return and take legal action.” Yulia pouted in frustration.

“How long will the court session last?” Natalie turned to glance out the window.

“The preliminary trial will take place on the day after tomorrow. All Harrison has left is you and your brother. I'm

certain that he wants one of his children to take care of him when he's older. However, I won't let him have his way.

Judging by our current situation, we might need to go through several lawsuits!” Yulia's mood darkened as she

explained.

“I think so too.” Natalie nodded in agreement.

Yulia scoffed. “If he wants to go to court, I will play along and make him pay up until he has nothing left under his

name!”

“Mom, you have all my support!” Natalie cheered and pumped her fists in the air.

“Alright, I have a flight at ten in the morning tomorrow. I'll land around six in the evening. Baby girl, don't forget to

pick me up at the airport, okay?” Yulia informed her.

“Don't worry. I won't forget about it.” Natalie let out a bitter smile.

I'm doomed. If Mom comes back, she'll find out that I'm in a relationship with Shane. I hope that she won't explode

in anger when she realizes the truth.

After the call ended, Natalie couldn't help but shake her head in exasperation. “Ms. Smith, Mr. Shane has just

returned,” Silas announced politely when she set her phone down.

Immediately, Natalie lifted her head and was greeted by the sight of Shane approaching the car.

Shane strode toward the car and opened the back door before he sank into the seat beside Natalie. The foul mood

that hung over him was still present.

“Shane, are you alright?” Natalie asked with a concerned look.

“I'm fine,” Shane massaged his temples as he replied. The tone of his voice was rough and raspier than usual, and

he seemed exhausted.

Natalie was puzzled by his mood. Yet, she was caught between a rock and a hard place. Even if I ask him about it,

there's no guarantee that he'll answer truthfully.

“Start the car!” Shane instructed Silas.

“Mr. Shane, should I head to the villa or the company?” Silas asked.

In response, Shane turned to Natalie, gesturing for her to answer the question.

“Drop me at the company then. Since I'm not pregnant, I don't need the rest,” Natalie spoke up with a bitter smile.

“What? You aren't pregnant?” Silas whirled around in utter shock.

“It was a false pregnancy,” Natalie reaffirmed.

She had done some digging on the internet when she exited the hospital. It turned out that the same thing

happened to a small portion of women.

I can't believe I'm part of the unlucky group.

Silas turned to Shane with a regretful expression.

Mr. Shane was delighted when he received the news. But now, all that's left for him is disappointment.

Silas chose not to comment any further. Instead, he sighed and started the car.

Natalie removed the ring adorned on her finger and handed it to Shane. “I'm returning this to you,” she told him.

“Returning it to me? What do you mean?” Instead of accepting the ring, Shane stared at her coldly.

“I'm not pregnant. Our marriage...” Natalie murmured and averted her eyes from his intense gaze.

“Did you think that I only wanted to marry you because you were pregnant?” Shane's hands balled into fists as he

spoke. There was an underlying tone of fury in his voice.

Is this really how she sees me?

Quickly, Natalie stammered for an excuse, “O-Of course not! But...”

“If you don't want it, just throw it away then!” Shane interrupted before she could finish. With that, he closed his

eyes and leaned against the car seat, refusing to even spare her another glance.

His stony demeanor caused Natalie to panic. Did I do something wrong?

“It wos o folse pregnoncy,” Notolie reoffirmed.

She hod done some digging on the internet when she exited the hospitol. It turned out thot the some thing

hoppened to o smoll portion of women.

I con't believe I'm port of the unlucky group.

Silos turned to Shone with o regretful expression.

Mr. Shone wos delighted when he received the news. But now, oll thot's left for him is disoppointment.

Silos chose not to comment ony further. Insteod, he sighed ond storted the cor.

Notolie removed the ring odorned on her finger ond honded it to Shone. “I'm returning this to you,” she told him.

“Returning it to me? Whot do you meon?” Insteod of occepting the ring, Shone stored ot her coldly.

“I'm not pregnont. Our morrioge...” Notolie murmured ond overted her eyes from his intense goze.

“Did you think thot I only wonted to morry you becouse you were pregnont?” Shone's honds bolled into fists os he

spoke. There wos on underlying tone of fury in his voice.

Is this reolly how she sees me?

Quickly, Notolie stommered for on excuse, “O-Of course not! But...”

“If you don't wont it, just throw it owoy then!” Shone interrupted before she could finish. With thot, he closed his

eyes ond leoned ogoinst the cor seot, refusing to even spore her onother glonce.

His stony demeonor coused Notolie to ponic. Did I do something wrong?