Then she turned to Tobias and said, "Tobias, you promised me. How could you do this?"
Natalie stepped forward quickly and hugged Selina as she sobbed. "Don't worry, Selina. I'm the only one who knows. Mom and Matthew have no clue. I forced Tobias to tell me the truth."
Selina was slightly relieved.
Natalie hugged Selina. "Silly girl, why didn't you tell me about this? I am your sister-in-law. We met when we were 19 and have always been close. How can you not tell me that such a thing has happened?"
Selina felt guilty as Natalie began to interrogate her.
She murmured, "Natalie, I didn't mean to lie to you. I didn't want you to worry about me. My illness can't be cured. How could I just let you watch as I died?"
Hearing about death made Natalie even more upset.
Tears flowed down her face.
Selina wanted to cry too, but she forced herself to stop.
She took a breath and then laughed. "Natalie, I'm the one dying and I'm not even crying. How can you cry?"
Natalie released Selina from her arms and wiped away her tears. "Okay, I won't cry. I won't cry."
At noon, the three of them had lunch together.
It was a particularly silent meal.
After dinner, Natalie pulled Selina aside.
She said in a very serious tone, "Selina, tell me, do you really want to hide this from Matthew? Are you really not going to tell him?"
Selina smiled sarcastically. "Natalie, why would I tell Matthew? I can't have him watch or accompany me as I become an old woman and eventually die. Natalie, I can't do it."
"But this is very cruel to Matthew. Do you know that Matthew gets drunk at home everyday after you leave?"
Selina lowered her eyes, and her thick eyelashes trembled. She said, "Natalie, he must be in pain now. I know that, but rest assured that he will be fine after a while. He will be fine."
"But what if he's not?"
"No, he will be fine." Selina looked up, her eyes full of certainty. "I betrayed him and got rid of his child. When he comes to his senses, he will hate me. He won't love me anymore, so his heart can accommodate other women. But if he knows about my death, he will remember and love me for a lifetime. I don't want him to be like this. I want him to get married in the future and have his own children. I don't want him to live a lonely life."
Natalie was shocked by what Selina said.
She had always thought that Matthew contributed more to their relationship, that Matthew loved Selina more.
But now she realized that Selina loved Matthew too, and her love wasn't any less than his.
Tobias took Natalie away at night.
Natalie wanted to stay with Selina for her final days, but Selina objected.
She didn't want Natalie to witness as she grew older. Besides, her stay would cause suspicion.
"Natalie, let me spend my final days in peace. Your presence would make me feel uncomfortable." Selina said.
Tobias shot Natalie a glance.
He was asking Natalie to respect Selina's wishes.
Natalie left in the end.
As they were on the way back to the Whitlock family's villa, Natalie suddenly said, "Tobias, take me to the Perry family."
Tobias held his breath.
His voice was a little sour. "Natalie, Selina doesn't want Matthew to find out. Respect her wishes."
Natalie gave a wry smile. "Tobias, I know. Don't worry, I'll respect Selina's wishes. I want to go to the Perry family to help Matthew, and even more so to help Selina."
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