Queena leaned against Natalie''s shoulder, scrolling on her phone with one hand and munching on grilled chicken with the other.


    "Tsk, it looks like someone''s directing the hate train against you," Queena remarked. She wasn''t a tech expert, but she knew about paid online trolls. This had to be a coordinated campaign.


    But for Natalie, this was her home turf. She had been groomed by Mr. Sanders Sr. to be his sessor, excelling in every field. Her only weakness had been her foolish, romance-obsessed heart. The way she used to grovel at Sebastian''s feet was so pathetic that even Queena, her best friend, could barely watch.


    Queena patted Natalie''s shoulder earnestly. "Please tell me you''re really over him this time. You''re not going to be hispdog anymore, are you? If you go back to groveling for Sebastian, I might have to disown you."


    "You''re young and have your whole life ahead of you. Why throw it away?" Queena continued, sounding like a seasoned yer. "Think about it. Is one man really worth giving up the entire forest for? There are plenty of fish in the sea."


    Natalie caught the hint of a man-eater in her tone and broke into a brilliant smile. "I''m done with that jerk. Joanna can have him. They''re a perfect match, anyway."


    With that, she took a long swig of beer, chasing it with a bite of meat. It was the kind of simple, guilty pleasure that warmed you from the inside out. Pure bliss.


    The next morning, Natalie woke up in Queena''s bed. She rolled over ungracefully and, with a stroke of incredible luck, tumbled right onto the floor.


    "Oof!" The impact jolted her awake.


    Queena''s eyes shot open. She saw Natalie sprawled out, one leg still on the bed, the rest of her on the floor, crowned with a bird''s nest of hair. The sight was so ridiculous that she couldn''t hold back herughter.


    “Haha...” Queena sat up, roaring withughter.


    Natalie pouted. What was wrong with her? At least it was just her best friend who saw. She slowly picked herself up. The sunlight streaming through the window


    was bright and sharp. It was a new day, and she was fully recharged.


    Tonight, there was a battle to be fought, and she had to give it her all. Reborn, she would be bold, confident, and utterly unstoppable.


    After a quick breakfast, Natalie texted her grandfather.


    [Grandpa, your granddaughter is going to crush some people at the Spencer banquet tonight. It might raise your blood pressure, so maybe you should sit this one out.]


    Mr. Sanders Sr. replied almost instantly: [You cured my high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar years ago, what''s a little excitement going to do? I''ming to watch you kick some ass in person.]


    Natalie shook her head. The old man just loved a good spectacle. She shouldn''t have texted him. Just as she thought that, another message came through.


    [Why would you tell me not toe if you didn''t want me there? You just wanted to pique my curiosity, didn''t you? You little rascal, you did that on purpose.]


    Natalie realized he was right.


    Ignoring him, she and Queena went out for a day of shopping and a spa treatment. After a deep-cleansing facial Natalie returned to Breeze Manor and adorned herself with the magnificent diamond jewelry her grandfather had prepared for her years ago-pieces she had never once worn.


    Staring at her reflection, she saw the girl she used to be, years ago. She was truly beautiful. Every woman was an angel, gentle and sweet. She was, too.


    A memory surfaced. When she was about to leave with her biological parents, her grandfather had pulled her aside. "My girl," he''d said, his voice thick with emotion, "I''ve raised you, and I truly love you. I have only one request don''t tell your parents who you really are. If you get hurt over there, my home is always open to you. You will always be my most cherished granddaughter."


    Back then, she had foolishly believed she would find the love she craved from her birth parents. She had looked at her grandfather''s retreating back and resolutely followed Wendy to the Scott family He must have known, even then, that she would be hurt. She was the only one who had been so naive.