"Hah!"


    A pained, heartbrokenugh escaped Natalie''s lips. She looked at the man before her, tears glistening in her eyes. How could he be so cruel?-


    "Sebastian, we lived together for two years. Am I really that wicked in your eyes? Then again, you love Joanna so much you probably think her shit smells like roses. Of course you''d believe anything she says."


    Her voice cracked. "The proof is right in front of you, and you still refuse to believe it. What could I possibly say that would ever make you trust me?"


    "You..." Sebastian faltered.


    He looked into her beautiful, grief-stricken eyes, saw the heartbreak and sorrow, and it was as if being married to him was the most disgusting thing in the world. She stood alone, illuminated by the glow of the distant screen, an ethereal figure in the garden. A gentle breeze lifted the hem of her dress and strands of her hair. She was a vision of cold, stunning indifference, her eyes glinting with frost and finality.


    Sebastian suddenly realized how much she had changed. Her deep, expressive eyes now held a universe of emotions he couldn''t begin to understand.


    "The truth isid bare, Sebastian, and still, you won''t believe me, not even once," Natalie said with a derisive smile, her voiceced with a profound sorrow that struck him like a physical blow.


    An unexpected pang of pain shot through his chest.


    Just then, two police officers walked in, escorting a pair of rough-looking men. The guests watched, their appetite for drama insatiable. In this city, the Griffiths and the Scotts were always a source of juicy gossip.


    One of the captured men pointed at a stunned Lily. "It was that old hag who paid us! She gave us the money. Officer, I have proof."


    The officer turned to Lily. gued by high blood pressure and exposed by the video, she saw the police and felt her world spin. Her blood pressure spiked, and she copsed to her knees, trembling. "Officer, it was all me! Ms. Scott had nothing to do with it. Arrest me! I did it on my own."


    Natalie watched Lily''s dramatic confession with a flicker of confusion. The maid was actually willing to take the fall for Joanna. She had only wanted to see Natalie leave empty-handed, and this was the grand spectacle she had orchestrated.


    Natalie feigned disbelief. "Lily, I''ve never done anything to you. Why would you frame me like this?"


    Lily hesitated, looking at Natalie''s face. Something about her was different. It was just your bad luck Natalie," she spat. "I can''t stand the sight of you. Your husband doesn''t love you, and your brothers hate you.


    I just didn''t want you tearing this


    family apart anymore. You''re


    nothing but a jinx."


    A bitter smile touched Natalie''s lips. So even a maid found her insufferable. Just how pathetic had her life been? But from now on, she would live for herself, and she would never let anyone hurt her again.


    It was time to go home. She had


    thrown her life away for a worthless man. In her fast life, she had let down so many people who loved her. This time, she would not make the same mistake. This family was destined for turmoil, and she would


    be content to watch from the sidelines.


    Natalie, Natalie, you were such a lovesick fool.


    Thank God for second chances.


    Natalie turned to the police officer, a charming smile ying on her lips. "Please direct all further inquiries to mywyer. He will be in touch with your station shortly."


    With that settled, she walked over to Mrs. Scott. Leaning in, she whispered, "Mrs. Scott, you''re about to cast out your own flesh and blood for the daughter your husband had with his mistress. Let''s see how things y out for you from here on out."


    Having dropped her bombshell, Natalie strode away without a backward nce. It was true.


    Joanna wasn''t adopted; she wa


    Nathan Scott''s illegitimate daughter, born to his mistress. To bring his lover''s child into the family, they had swapped her out at birth a secret she had discovered only as a wandering soul.


    Mrs. Scott stared after Natalie''s retreating figure, her eyes wide with shock and horror.


    Sebastian watched her slender back as she walked away, not even sparing him a final nce. He turned his attention to Joanna.


    Joanna looked at him, her face a mask of anxiety. "Sebastian, I didn''t know. I swear, I didn''t know anything."


    Lily had taken all the me, so all she had to do was y ignorant.


    As Sebastian walked toward her, Joanna''s vision blurred, and she fainted into his arms.


    "Joanna!" he cried, scooping her up and rushing outside.


    As he exited the vi, he saw Natalie''s proud silhouette slipping into a luxury car.


    He ran after it, but the car shot past him, leaving him in a cloud of dust.