From inside the car, Natalie watched Sebastian''s frantic concern for Joanna with a clinical detachment. It was just like him. No matter how vicious Joanna was, he would always protect her as if she were a precious treasure.


    "Ahem." A deep, weathered voice beside her broke the silence.


    A chill ran down Natalie''s spine. She turned her head slowly to face the old man next to her, and tears immediately welled in her eyes.


    "Grandpa," she choked out, overwhelmed with emotion. She hadn''t expected him toe for her too.


    This was Noah Sanders, the man who had raised her, the grandfather who loved her more than anyone. His weathered face was stern, his eyes burning with a quiet rage. Sebastian and the Scotts had hurt his precious girl, and they would pay for it.


    "Don''t you cry," he growled. "I''m not dead yet."


    But Natalie smiled through her tears. In her past life, her death had broken him. He had followed her a yearter. She had been such an ungrateful granddaughter.


    "Waaaah!" The thought sent a fresh wave of grief through her, and she broke down into loud, heaving sobs.


    The handsome young man driving gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. He wanted to tear that bastard Sebastian limb from limb.


    "Still crying?" Mr. Sanders Sr. demanded, his expression a mixture of anger and heartache as he red at her.


    Natalie''s words came out between ragged sobs. "Grandpa... Wayne... I was so stupid!"


    Wayne Sanders had also been raised by their grandfather, along with two other boys who were like brothers to her. They had all grown up together.


    Mr. Sanders Sr. swallowed the harsh words on the tip of his tongue.


    Wayne let out a short, humorlessugh. “So, little girl, you''ve finally woken up."


    Natalie''s crying subsided. She pulled a tissue from her purse and blew her nose loudly.


    Mr. Sanders Sr. winced and shut his eyes in disgust. "Have you no shame? What in God''s name was in there that you had to blow it that loud?"


    Embarrassed, Natalie threw the tissue in the trash bin. "Grandpa," she hupped, "I''m... hic... hurting... don''t be... hic... mean to me."


    "Quiet!" he snapped, the sound grating on his nerves.


    "Okay, I''m quiet," she mumbled, and for once, she was.


    This time, she would protect her family. In her past life, Wayne had tried to avenge her, only to be killed by an assassin Joanna hired. This time, she would rewrite their fates. She would tear off Joanna''s mask and then the world would be her oyster.


    Wayne nced at her in the rearview mirror, his charming eyes full of azy warmth. "Natalie, you want to get away for a bit? Clear your head?"


    "Yes," she said without hesitation. "I''m going to the Sarnian rainforest."


    Mr. Sanders Sr. nearly leaped out of his seat. "You''re going where?" he roared, his sharp eyes wide with rm.


    The sheer volume of his voice made both Natalie and Wayne jump.


    Natalie shrank back, exining timidly, "Grandpa, I''ve been idle for a few years. It''s time I went out and grew a little.”


    Reborn, she wanted to truly live, for herself.


    Mr. Sanders Sr. considered it. Maybe a little hardship would knock some sense into her. "Fine,” he conceded. "You have three months. If you get yourself killed out there, I''ll pretend I never raised you."


    A confident smile spread across Natalie''s face, illuminating her pale features. "Don''t worry, Grandpa. I''le back healthy and strong to take care of you in your old age and see you off to... a long and happy life. She caught herself just in time.


    "Heh heh," she giggled sheepishly.


    Mr. Sanders Sr. shot her a re. See me off? This ungrateful girl. She was lucky she hadn''t finished that sentence.


    But he nodded, satisfied. "Alright. Wayne, you take her. Don''t bring her back until she''s got her head on straight."


    Wayne shed azy grin. After dropping their grandfather at home, he drove Natalie straight to a private airfield, and they flew to Sarn.


    Three monthster.


    International Airport.


    Natalie was a vision in a sleek, ck


    catsuit. Three months of intense


    training had sculpted her body into a perfect, sensuous curve, and radiated an intimidating, unapproachable aura. Her hair was putted back in a high ponytail, revealing a delicate face and sharp, clear eyes that shone with a cold" light. People turned to stare as she passed, their expressions a mixture of awe and admiration.


    She pushed her luggage cart toward the exit. Once outside, she checked her watch. Luna, who was supposed to pick her up, waste. The girl had texted saying she had already arrived.


    Natalie took a deep breath, the familiar city air filling her lungs. She was finally back.


    Suddenly, a familiar, icy voice cut through the noise. “Natalie, where have you been?"