Nathan froze, stunned that she had agreed so readily.


    Joanna was equally taken aback. In the past, Natalie would have begged for forgiveness, making their father despise her even more. But this time, she was calm andpliant.


    "Please don''t sign," Joanna pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "It''s all my fault. I''m the one who took your ce, your identity. That''s why you were so angry with me. I won''t press charges, really. I forgive you. Please, don''t leave us."


    Natalie watched her, disgusted by the most nauseating disy of crocodile tears she had ever witnessed.


    She smiled serenely. "Isn''t this exactly what you wanted, Joanna? For me to agree to the divorce and leave the Scott family?" she said, her voice dripping with irony. "You im you stole my ce, so why don''t you do the decent thing and leave? You say it every time but never do. Who are you putting on this show for?"


    Joanna was speechless. Natalie had changed. When had she be soposed?


    Seeing Joanna at a loss for words, Natalie turned her attention to Nathan. "Mr. Scott, when Sebastian had that car ident and went blind, Joanna fled the country. That''s when you brought me back, to marry him in her ce. Consider my debt for raising me paid in full."


    Nathan breathed a sigh of relief, terrified for a moment that she was about to reveal the whole truth. Joanna, too, felt a wave of relief wash over her. There was no way Natalie could have known.


    Natalie took the disownment papers from her father''s hand without a nce. She''d already read them in her past life. Without a moment''s hesitation, she signed her name.


    She was the Scott family''s biological daughter, a fact they had never


    acknowledged. Because she had grown up in the small town, they considered her


    an embarrassment and told everyone she was adopted.


    The document was in duplicate. She tucked one copy into her handbag, which


    she had picked up from the floor, and quickly sent a text message.


    [I need toe home. Joanna Scott framed me. Get me the evidence. You have twenty minutes.]


    She was leaving, but not before giving Joanna a parting gift.


    Nearby guests were still murmuring about how wicked she was, but Natalie''s


    heart had grown numb to the pain. She handed the signed document back to Nathan. "Here you are, Mr. Scott."


    Nathan took it, a flicker of unease crossing his face as he saw her cool, indifferent expression. She genuinely didn''t care anymore.


    Natalie then turned to Sebastian, who was still holding the divorce agreement. She had fainted earlier because he, in a fit of rage on


    Joanna''s behalf, had pped fol


    ??????


    twice, knocking her uncons Three years had passed, and she had almost forgotten that her martial arts skills were more than enough to kill this bastard.


    "Natalie, you were such a fool for love."


    She took the papers from his hand and looked at his chiseled features. He was a titan of the city''s elite, with a prestigious family and striking looks. No wonder Joanna had pursued him so relentlessly.


    A tragic smile touched her lips. This would be thest time she ever felt pain for this man.


    "Sebastian, for two years, I took care of you with everything I had. I never did a single thing to betray you or our marriage. My conscience is clear."


    Sebastian flinched. He remembered her tireless care during those dark years. Her deste smile stirred an unfamiliar agitation in his heart. But she was too vicious hurting Joanna time and again. He found the sight of such a malicious woman repulsive.


    "Hmph. You''d better mean it, Natalie. Don''t try any tricks. Every other time I''ve tried to divorce you, you''ve found some excuse to refuse. What you did this time was unforgivable. I''m only letting this go because of the care you showed me and for Joanna''s sake."


    Natalie let out a coldugh as tears welled in her eyes. The pain was sharp, immediate. How could she still be crying over a scumbag like him?


    "I don''t need your pity," she spat. "You never had me in your heart. You never believed me, not even once. A bastard like you is perfect for Joanna. Since you two are so deeply in love, I''ll get out of your way."


    Sebastian''s face contorted with rage. He was about tosh out when he saw her sign her name on the divorce papers without the slightest hesitation.