She grabbed his wrist, trying to pull him off to save herself, but then Hayden Sheffield slammed his fist onto the headboard with a resounding "bang"!
Hayden Sheffield's eyes were bloodshot all over.
"You… what's wrong with you…" Natalie Jennings managed to speak with difficulty, "Let… let go…"
He stared at her coldly: "Tell me you won't leave me, say you'll always be here. Say it!"
"Our marriage was always…"
But Hayden roared, "I told you to say it!! Without my permission, no one can leave me!"
Natalie Jennings looked deep into his eyes, and unbelievably, she saw panic and helplessness there.
What is he so afraid of!?
The next second, the master bedroom door swung open.
The butler rushed in, panic-stricken: "Mr. Sheffield! Please calm down, I'll call Dr. Spencer right away! Madam, please get out, Mr. Sheffield's having an episode!"
But Natalie Jennings was completely naked, and Hayden Sheffield still had his hand around her neck—how was she supposed to escape?
She carefully recalled their conversation, trying to figure out what went wrong earlier.
Natalie Jennings suddenly had an idea and probed, "Hayden Sheffield, are you afraid of losing someone, or… have you lost someone before?"
As soon as she finished, his large hand on her neck loosened slightly.
It worked!
Seeing this, Natalie Jennings continued, "You now have wealth and glory, everyone looks up to you, and I'm nothing more than a pawn in your hand. What more are you afraid of? Your greatest demon is yourself!"
Hayden Sheffield's cold, thin lips spat out two words: "Shut up."
"Every time you relapse…"
"Get out!"
The lamp and vase on the nightstand were all swept to the floor by Hayden Sheffield.
He was like a furious lion, impossible for anyone to approach.
The butler said, "Madam, you'd better leave for now. Once Dr. Spencer arrives you can come back in. When Mr. Sheffield has an episode, he could seriously hurt someone!"
"What exactly is his illness?" Natalie Jennings remained remarkably calm. "Maybe I can help him!"
"Post-traumatic stress disorder," the butler replied.
"What kind of trauma did Hayden Sheffield experience?"
The butler stuttered, hesitant to say more.
That was Mr. Sheffield's taboo! Eva had already died in the fire, becoming Mr. Sheffield's untouchable pain!
"Madam, I… cannot say."
Left with no other choice, Natalie Jennings grabbed Hayden Sheffield's suit to wrap around herself, and with her other hand reached under the pillow for a scented sachet.
A faint, elegant fragrance, soothing to the heart, drifted softly through the air.
Hayden Sheffield's tightly furrowed brows began to slowly relax.
The scent lingered around them.
Natalie Jennings sat cross-legged and massaged Hayden Sheffield's temples: "This is a psychological disorder. When a particular keyword triggers the depths of your heart, you suffer an episode—becoming irritable, manic, unable to control yourself."
Hayden Sheffield kept his eyes closed, lips pursed tightly, but his body was beginning to relax.
"Natalie Jennings, you seem to have many surprises that I don't know about."
Natalie Jennings replied, "That's right, so… don't fall in love with me."
Hayden Sheffield let out a cold snort.
The butler stared at them, utterly dumbfounded.
Whenever he had an episode, only sedatives could calm Mr. Sheffield down—yet this time, just a few words from Madam had worked?
Last time Dr. Spencer had already said, you can't just use sedatives; long-term injections would seriously harm the body, they had to find another method.
Nobody expected the solution was right here with Madam!
"Madam…" The butler was about to say something, but Natalie Jennings hushed him and gave a meaningful look, signaling him to leave the room.
Watching Hayden Sheffield gradually calm, Natalie Jennings said, "Let's make a deal."
"You're in no position to bargain."
"But your illness… I have a way to treat it!"
Hayden Sheffield said coldly, "I can get treatment without you."
Tch, still so stubborn!
If they really had a better way, the butler wouldn't have been so panicked just now.
"My conditions aren't high." Natalie Jennings paused with her fingertips. "I'll marry you in name, but not in body. For two years, I'll cooperate with you on all else, no questions asked."
Hayden Sheffield's expression frosted over: "Do you know how many women want to sleep with me? Natalie Jennings, you really don't know what's good for you!"
"I'm not like those women."
He let out a cold laugh and got out of bed.
"What kind of psychological trauma did you really experience?" Natalie Jennings stared at his tall, retreating figure. "Who caused it? Was it family… or a lover?"
"None of your business."
Downstairs, in the living room.
Silas Spencer saw Hayden Sheffield and asked in surprise, "Weren't you having an episode just now? How come you're fine?"
Hayden Sheffield said nothing, his face cold as he sat down.
"Dr. Spencer, it was thanks to Madam," the butler said, "In just a little while, Madam managed to calm Mr. Sheffield down."
"The mysterious young wife you just married?" Silas's curiosity grew. "She can do that too? Let me meet her!"
Hayden Sheffield's face was expressionless: "You can leave now."
"Hiding your beauty away, are you? Not letting me see her?"
"Believe it or not, I'll throw you out."
Silas patted his medical kit. "Come on, have a heart—it's the middle of the night and I rushed here to check on you, and this is how you treat me? If you won't let me meet her, then tell me how she did it."
"I smelled a certain scent," Hayden Sheffield said flatly, "combined with her massage technique."
"A scent… could it be a calming fragrance? Herbal medicine?" Silas rubbed his chin, then suddenly slapped his thigh. "Right! Why didn't I think of using traditional medicine for treatment?"
Hayden Sheffield pressed his lips together.
Natalie Jennings actually understood herbs, and could make scents herself?
What kind of treasure did he marry into his home?
"No wonder you got married so suddenly—turns out you lucked out. Where did you find her? From your Featherwing Alliance?" Silas asked.
"She's not with the Featherwing Alliance."
Hayden Sheffield had trained a team of bodyguards, calling them the Featherwing Alliance.
Each member wasn't just highly skilled in combat, but also had unique, specialized talents.
Eva… she had once been one of the Featherwing Alliance, too!
Natalie Jennings knew sanda, taekwondo, and also herbs—but she just happened to have a face similar to Eva's, nothing more!
Silas waggled his eyebrows mischievously, "One night of spring is worth a thousand gold—aren't you going to…"
"Butler."
"Yes?"
Hayden Sheffield said icily, "Throw him out!"
Silas grabbed his medical kit and made a hasty retreat.
Hayden Sheffield returned to the master bedroom. Natalie Jennings was already asleep.
Her long lashes quivered slightly, her sleeping face serene, like a kitten inviting someone's affection.
Unconsciously, he reached out, wanting to touch her cheek.
The instant his fingertips brushed her skin, Hayden Sheffield's expression turned cold. What was he doing!
She was not Eva! He must remember that!
He quickly stood up and left without any hesitation.
In her deep sleep, Natalie Jennings remained completely unaware…
Early in the morning, she received a call from the hospital—her brother had regained consciousness.
Natalie Jennings immediately hurried over.
Outside the hospital room.
The doctor said, "The patient's life is not in danger, but the brain injury is too severe—he now has the mind of a three-year-old."
"What? Is there any chance for recovery?"
"There is. But it's very slim."
Natalie Jennings closed her eyes briefly, accepting this reality.
It's okay. Her brother was still her brother—she still had family, she wasn't all alone in the world.
Natalie Jennings pushed open the door and walked in.
Aidan Jennings heard footsteps, looked up, and was delighted: "Natalie… you're Natalie!"
"Brother, it's me. I came to see you."
Aidan Jennings reached out to hug her, but suddenly froze: "Natalie, run! Bad people are here! They'll hurt you… leave right now!"