6:18 Fri , Sep 26 Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage Natalie blinked twice , her lashes fluttering uncontrollably as she read the message . It probably meant that the inmate's daughter had finally found a lead . She quickly dialed Lucy's number and held the phone to her car . 420 Free Cons The call connected . Lucy's voice came through . " Finally ! I've been trying to reach you ... " " Did you find something about Lily ? " " We dug up some basic info . Apparently , she was placed in an orphanage three years ago . We don't know which one yet , but the most likely are Love Orphanage and Cinder Orphanage- they're the closest to her home . " " Is the info solid ? " Lucy hesitated . " I can't say for sure . It's just what we found in the initial search . I've got an important meeting tomorrow , so I probably won't be able to check either place until the day after . " I'll go ask around tomorrow . " " Alright . If you find anything , let me know . " " Okay . " She ended the call and placed the phone on her nightstand , setting it on top of the black business card . She glanced at it briefly , then lay back down and pulled the covers over herself . Natalie had planned to visit the orphanages in the morning , but when she woke drained , she decided to wait until the afternoon . still feeling up The two orphanages were far apart . After checking the first one , the director told her they didn't have a child by that name . So she made her way to the second one - Cinder Orphanage . When she arrived , she met with the director . " She stayed with us for a year ," the director said , " but her biological father came and took her 1/5 6:18 Fri , Sep 26 Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage away . After that , we didn't hear anything more . Her records were deleted as well . " The words hit Natalie like a blow to the chest . 420 Free Coins Cindy , the inmate on death row , had once saved her life . Her daughter's father was said to be a gambler who constantly mistreated her . Cindy had placed the child in the orphanage before going to prison , hoping she'd have a better life and escape from him . But now Lily had been taken back . As she left the orphanage , Natalie decided to update Lucy and ask her to help track down Lily's father . He was the only link left . She pulled out her phone , but a deep voice suddenly came from behind . " I told you to go home . " Natalie turned around quickly . Her brows knit at the sight of the man walking toward her . Jackson . Her expression tightened , wariness flashing in her eyes . " How did you know I was here ? " " I told you to come home today . Why didn't you ? What are you doing in a dump like an orphanage ? " Jackson strode over and grabbed her wrist , trying to pull her toward the street . A familiar black Cullinan was parked nearby . His car . Natalie's voice dropped . " Jackson , are you following me ? " She resisted and stopped walking . Looking up at him , her eyes were ice cold . " If you'd just gone home like I asked , I wouldn't have had to assign someone to tail you . " Natalie looked around in disbelief . She scanned left and right but didn't see anyone suspicious . " Why are you going to so much trouble to drag me back to Clear Estate ? " She yanked her arm 215 6:18 Fri , Sep 26 Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage free . " I already told you I want a divorce . Why are you still making this difficult ? " +20 Free Coins " If you don't come back today , Grandpa's going to kick both me and Aiden out tomorrow . " He suddenly stepped closer , staring down at her beautiful face . " I'm not going to let you destroy this family with your own hands ." So that was it . It was Grandpa who was blocking the divorce . No wonder Jackson had called in the middle of the night , begging her to come home no matter what . And no wonder he said something as ridiculous as refusing to sign if she didn't return . Before Natalie could react , Jackson suddenly bent down and hoisted her over his shoulder . The world tilted beneath her . Instinctively , she grabbed at the back of his suit for balance . Once steady , she pounded on his back . " Jackson , put me down ! " He ignored her and carried her across the street . The car door opened , and he shoved her into the back seat . He looked up and told his assistant , " Drive . " " Yes , Mr. Jackson . " As the car started to move , Natalie tried to open the door to get out . But Jackson grabbed her wrist again , firmly holding her in place . She didn't know couldn't bring herself to go back to Clear Estate . why but she That house had been their marital home - the place where the three of them had lived together for years . And it was there that Victoria had ruined her life . Just the thought of it made her want to stay far away . If she could , she'd never set foot in that place again . " Let go . " 315 6:18 Fri , Sep 26 Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage Natalie glared at him , her eyes ice cold . 20 Free Coins " Just sit still . I'm not going to hurt you . As long as Grandpa stays calm, we can talk about everything . " But his grip on her wrist only tightened . She winced slightly from the pain . Now that she knew his real reason for forcing her back , a fire rose inside her . Without thinking , Natalie grabbed his hand and bit down hard . She poured all her anger and frustration into that bite . Jackson grunted and furrowed his brows . He let go and glanced down at his wrist . A deep bite mark had been left behind - almost to the point of bleeding . His chest heaved with rage . In his memory , Natalie had always been gentle . She'd never even spoken harshly to him before , let alone bitten him . " Are you a damn dog ? " " I am , actually , " Natalie said with a cold smirk . " Mr. Jackson , I guess you've been too busy with other women to remember that , " Jackson let out a laugh of disbelief . Natalie ignored him and turned to face the window . The car was already moving . There was no getting out now . On the way back to Clear Estate , her thoughts ran wild . She had taken this road countless times. Every trip had been filled with hope . In that house , she'd waited every day for her son to come home from school , for her husband to return from work . She'd given up her passions and career , cooking and cleaning for them with her own hands . And in the end , they'd thrown her in prison . 4/5 6:18 Fri , Sep 26 Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage Now , after everything , she was going back - and all she felt was emptiness . " Get out . " His low voice broke through her thoughts . Without even looking at him , Natalie got out of the car . 420 Free Coins She looked up at the villa and garden she hadn't seen in three years , her heart sinking like a stone . Just then , Jackson grabbed her wrist again and dragged her toward the house . " Come inside . We need to talk face to face . " In "A Lady Hard to Please" by CrushReels, a single mother makes a poignant return to the city she fled seven years ago. Her mission: to secure treatment for her son's leukemia, setting the stage for an emotional journey of love and resilience amidst past heartbreak. As her ex-lover reenters her life upon hearing of her return, old wounds resurface, sparking a complex web of emotions and decisions that delve deep into themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the enduring power of love. This modern romance novel stands out for its raw portrayal of familial bonds tested by adversity, offering readers a compelling exploration of human strength and vulnerability. With a captivating blend of heart-wrenching moments and tender revelations, "A Lady Hard to Please" promises a captivating read that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a tale that transcends boundaries and speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.