Thomas's eyes widened with sudden clarity.
"Hailey, from this moment on, you are not allowed to have any contact with William!"
"And keep whatever dirty secrets you had with him to yourself. If I hear a word about it, I'll deal with you myself!"
Hailey stood frozen, unable to even cry.
After scolding her, Thomas turned to Natalie, his tone gentler.
"Come to the company with me later."
He was ready to place her on the new energy vehicle project. If Logan invested in it, it would elevate the company significantly.
But he couldn't mention that in front of Ashley. They said to marry a virtuous woman—clearly, he hadn't.
Thomas sighed, frustration etched in every line of his face.
But Natalie, sensing his motives, immediately shook her head.
"No, he just gave me some money. I want to go shopping—buy a few things I can wear. I've just graduated college, and I need clothes for job interviews."
The "he" she meant was actually William, who had given her ten million yuan.
But Thomas assumed she was talking about Logan.
His excitement spiked.
Logan gave her money?
Ha! Thomas couldn't hide his grin. Wrinkles deepened as he laughed and then quickly turned serious.
He finally noticed what Natalie was wearing—a plain white T-shirt, jeans, scuffed blue canvas shoes, and a peeling bag.
Not a single branded item in sight.
No wonder Logan gave her money—it was a glaring sign that the Roberts family had been neglecting her.
He turned a piercing stare toward Ashley.
"I remember you buying new clothes every month. Why doesn't Natalie have any?"
Hailey jumped in quickly, trying to cover for their mother.
"Dad, of course she has clothes! She has so many her closet is overflowing. The other day, the maids even packed up some to donate."
Thomas looked at Natalie. "Is that true?"
Natalie met Hailey's gaze and replied calmly, "Yes, there were clothes packed and donated. But they were all my sister's—clothes she no longer wanted or that were out of season."
"If I were the same size as my sister, maybe I could wear her hand-me-downs. But she's too large. None of her clothes fit me."
Though her words weren't sharp, they cut deep.
Hailey's face turned red with fury. For once, she didn't bother pretending—she exploded.
"Natalie, how dare you call me fat? Am I really fat? I just have a health condition and need proper nutrition! I didn't expect you not only to misunderstand but also to mock me…" Hailey burst into tears again, sobbing uncontrollably.
Under normal circumstances, Thomas and his wife, Ashley, would have rushed to her side, showering her with comfort and concern. But now, Thomas only felt increasingly irritated and anxious.
"Shut up!" he snapped, then turned to Ashley. "Why haven't you bought any clothes for Natalie?"
"She's the younger sister. Isn't it natural for her to wear her older sister's hand-me-downs?" Ashley's expression darkened as she turned her ire toward Natalie. "Even though our family is financially stable, we have many people to support. Your father is the one working hard to provide for our food, clothing, and daily expenses. What's wrong with cutting back on a few clothing items?"
"Then why not have the older sister cut back instead?" Natalie asked calmly.
"How can Hailey not have new clothes? She could be spotted by fans at any moment. If she isn't dressed properly, it could ruin the Roberts family's image," Ashley replied as though it were obvious. "People might think we're struggling financially. On a larger scale, they might suspect our capital chain is broken! Hailey is the face of the family!"
Her logic temporarily softened Thomas's expression. But Natalie wasn't going to back down that easily.
"So, what you mean is, if my sister dresses poorly, it damages the family's reputation, but if I wear ill-fitting clothes, nobody questions Dad's finances or our household's situation?" Natalie asked, genuinely puzzled.
"How can you compare yourself to your sister? Your sister—" Ashley's voice faltered.
"Why can't I compare? Am I not your biological daughter too?" Natalie asked, her tone even.
"You…" Ashley scowled, about to lash out again, when Thomas interrupted.
"If you can't say anything helpful, then don't speak," he barked at her. Then, turning back to Natalie, he softened his tone. "Your sister's been in poor health since childhood. Your mother dotes on her a bit more. Don't take it personally. After all, they're still your biological mother and sister."
"I know. That's why whenever someone asks me, I always say I prefer affordable clothes because they're more comfortable," Natalie replied with a nod.
"You did the right thing," Thomas said approvingly.
"Well, I don't have much choice," Natalie continued. "I only get five hundred dollars a month as allowance. Even if I wanted luxury brands, I couldn't afford them."
"What did you say? Only five hundred?" Thomas turned sharply to Ashley, shocked. "You only give her that much?"
"Five hundred is already plenty. She eats and lives at home. What more does she need money for?" Ashley's expression turned uneasy.
Thomas's face darkened. Ashley was going too far. Both girls were their daughters, yet she treated Hailey like a treasure while completely neglecting Natalie.
Fortunately, Natalie's resentment seemed directed solely at Ashley. She still respected her father, evident from the fact that she approached him instead of silently enduring. That gave Thomas a sense of comfort.
He reached into his bag, pulled out a card, and handed it to Natalie.
"Buy whatever you want. A daughter of the Roberts family doesn't need to wear anyone's leftovers."
Natalie took the card without hesitation and turned to smile at Hailey and Ashley.
"I'm going shopping. Do either of you want anything? I'll bring it back for you!"
Hailey and Ashley glared at her.
"Who is she showing off to?"
Thomas noticed their expressions and grew angrier.
"They never buy you anything anyway, so don't buy anything for them. That card is yours—spend it however you want."
Natalie looked at him and beamed.
"Thanks, Dad! You're the best!"
Thomas basked in her praise. The more Natalie stayed close to him, the more influence he would gain with Logan in the future.
As Natalie turned to leave, Thomas stopped her again.
"Wait. It's not safe for a girl to go out alone. Dylan, follow Miss Roberts from now on. The BMW in the garage is hers."
In an instant, Hailey's eyes burned with venomous jealousy.
Why?! Natalie, who had done nothing for the family, was suddenly being treated the same as her?
She was the renowned inspirational icon, the pride of the Roberts family. And Natalie? Just someone hoping to use Logan to escape the fate of needing blood transfusions from Hailey.
Hailey seethed with envy.
Thomas gave Natalie a credit card, assigned a driver, and even saw her off himself.
Then, turning to Ashley with a grim expression, he said coldly:
"From now on, if Hailey has something, Natalie must have it too. If I find out you're mistreating her again—we're getting a divorce."
With that, he stormed off, completely ignoring the shock and fury on the faces of his wife and daughter.