Dumping Him for His Uncle (Natasha and Zachary)

It was obvious to anyone with eyes that Elena was up to something.

After getting caught, she guiltily set the folder down and backed out of Natasha's space.

Still, it was unlikely Elena had done anything to the fruit. Natasha just had a sensitive stomach, which was nothing new.

For a moment, Natasha seriously considered asking to switch rooms. But then she remembered that the only person who might be able to help was Zachary. That thought alone was enough to kill the idea.

Later that afternoon, after a short rest, it was time for the first seminar to begin.

At the very center of the ferry was a tiered auditorium that could seat up to 2,000 people, though only about 200 attendees were on this trip.

As soon as Natasha walked in, she spotted Xavier waving at her from one of the best seats in the room.

She made her way over and had just sat down when she noticed Nicole heading straight toward them.

It was no surprise. Of course, she wanted that spot.

"Didn't you hear me? Get out of that seat. Now!"

Natasha honestly wondered what Olivia had gone through giving birth to her. Was Nicole dropped on her head or something?

In a room full of professionals, she still had the nerve to throw a spoiled princess tantrum.

"Do you think this is the Bradley residence? Either sit down or get lost," Natasha replied calmly.noveldrama

Matthew, standing at Nicole's side, jumped in right away. "She's your sister. What's the big deal about giving her your seat?"

The fact of the matter was, the auditorium was massive. Even if Nicole sat two seats over, her view wouldn't be any different.

So really, this wasn't about the seat-it was about making Natasha look bad.

But Natasha wasn't the same person she used to be, and Henry wasn't here to pressure her anymore.

As soon as Matthew finished speaking, a wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. She glanced up and saw a group of men in suits escorting a foreigner into the room.

The moment they entered, the previously noisy hall fell completely silent.

All eyes turned to Quentin Anderson. It was clear he was the reason most people had come.

What Nicole's goal was, Natasha couldn't say. Thankfully, the latter finally quieted down, and Natasha shifted her focus to the man standing at the front.

Quentin had blond hair, stood at about six feet three, and his green irises glinted under the lights.

"Hello, everyone. I know some of you might be surprised by my accent, but I've actually lived in this country for over 20 years now."

Natasha listened closely, fully engaged so much so that she didn't notice the pair of eyes watching her from the shadows.

She didn't speak during the first session, but under Quentin's guidance, most of the attendees shared their perspectives.

There was another session scheduled after dinner, and the ferry wouldn't reach Fansville until midday the next day. That meant there would be one final seminar in the morning.

But even after two full sessions, Natasha hadn't said a single word. Even Xavier had shared some thoughts, yet she remained completely silent.

"I gave you all that material. Why haven't you said anything?" Xavier asked, pulling her aside on the deck after the session. He was a little anxious now.

"I'm not worried, so why are you?" Natasha replied with a smile, finding his concern a little amusing.

Xavier, however, looked frustrated.

"Everyone's trying their best to make an impression on Quentin. I heard the research institute in Fansville is looking to recruit new talent. With your skills, you'd be a top candidate."

Of course, it made sense that everyone was trying to stand out. Getting into the research institute was a huge opportunity.

"The more you want something, the more weaknesses you expose," Natasha said quietly.