"That''s right. Almost. For once, you actually listened to me," Wayne said, leaning backzily in his chair.


    Natalie pouted, her spirits sinking. This wasn''t how it happened in her past life. Mrs. Spencer Sr. was supposed to have fainted first, then her. She had been taken away by Joanna''s men, and Joanna had be Mrs. Spencer Sr.''s savior. Did this mean that no matter what she did, some things were destined to happen?


    She had seen Mrs. Spencer''s grandson once before. The man was devastatingly handsome. Joanna had be his close friend, and they often went out together. Using that connection, Joanna had managed to obtain a great deal ofmercial intelligence, which she used to help that man. But who was he? She had never found out in her past life.


    Wayne''s voice,ced withzy sarcasm, cut through her thoughts. "The news is saying that Joanna saved the matriarch of the Spencer family. But when I found you, you were soaked to the bone. Are you telling me that you, a champion swimmer, had an ident?"


    His mockery stung. "Wayne, did you brush your teeth today?" Natalie retorted, shooting him a cool look.


    "Huh?" Wayne breathed into his hand and sniffed, a look of self-disgust on his face. "Do I have bad breath?" He had used mint toothpaste that morning. His breath should be fresh.


    Then it dawned on him. He shot to his feet, indignant. “Hmph! You ungrateful brat. I''m leaving. Your ex-husband is outside, and I think he''s getting the wrong idea about us."


    "Whatever. That bastard could drop dead for all I care. Blind, heartless piece of trash. Good riddance to my ex..."


    Natalie''s frustration at her failure to change fate poured out in a stream of insults aimed squarely at Sebastian.


    Sebastian, who had just reached the doorway, heard every word. He frowned. The woman was getting bolder. She actually dared to curse him.


    Wayne chimed in, picking up where she left off. "And you''re only just realizing he''s a scumbag? After he pped you around a few times? You''ve really got high standards, Natalie. When you''re done talking to him, give me a call. I''m making your favorite lobster tonight."


    Natalie sat up abruptly. "Don''t you dare eat my share! I''ll be ready in five minutes."


    Wayne nced at his watch with an indulgent smile. "Alright. You''ve got five minutes." He walked out, not even sparing Sebastian a nce.


    The sight of their easy intimacy stirred an unpleasant feeling in Sebastian''s gut. He strode into the room, his eyes fixed on Natalie. Her face was pale, making her look both fragile and breathtakingly beautiful. The memory of Wayne''s easy


    captaraderie with he


    aderie with her sparked


    flicker of rage in his eyes. "You''ve


    been with him for thest three


    months?"


    Natalie knew Sebastian. If he wanted to know something, he could find out anything about her. His question told her that he hadn''t bothered to look for her at all. A sharp pang of pain shot through her, but her expression remained cold. "State your business. If you have none, get out."


    She had no intention of being civil to him. The memory of him pushing her from that building was still fresh, a raw wound that festered with hatred. That push had sent both her and her baby to hell.


    "Natalie, how long are you going to keep this up?" Sebastian''s patience was wearing thin. Why couldn''t she just be the obedient, dutiful wife she used to be?


    "Joanna was wrongst time, and I was wrong to hit you. Come home with me now." He didn''t want to waste any more time. Joanna had arranged a business meeting with Marshall for him, and he needed to get going.


    "Home?" Natalie looked at his handsome, almost demonic face. The bastard had never had any patience with her, but he had endless patience for Joanna. In her past life, she had been aplete foot for love apdog for Sebastian, all because of that face she must- have been insane. There were plenty of handsome men in the world. Why had she insisted on hanging herself from this one crooked tree?


    Sebastian had grown up in aplicated family. His father was a


    notorious phnderer with


    illegitimate children, and his mother was ina mental institution. That environment had shaped him into the sullen, withdrawn man he was today Joanna had been the light of the bethad his youth but the moment he had his ident, she had abandoned him and fled. Thinking back, she realized she had never even met that illegitimate child in her past life.


    Lost in thought, she was startled by Sebastian''s low, cold voice. "Natalie, did you


    hear a word I said?"