Sebastian shot him a cold re. "Just do it."


    Sean knew he had overstepped. "Yes, sir. I''ll get on it first thing tomorrow."


    Sebastian closed his eyes, thinking of what Luna had said. He grew even angrier. That woman had said Natalie was blind, that he didn''t deserve her. An immense frustration washed over him as he tried to rest. No matter how he looked at it, he knew absolutely nothing about Natalie. She had just been a pawn, a piece he''d used to secure control of thepany. But he hadn''t forgotten the kindness she had shown him.


    The more he thought, the more tangled his feelings became.


    ...


    In the car, Natalie leaned against the window, watching the scenery blur past. "Luna, keep an eye on Sebastian," she said quietly. "I showed my hand a little too much tonight. He''s going to start digging into my background. Don''t let him find out who I am." She knew Nathan too well. If he discovered the colossal Ceryn Corp. was behind her, he would stop at nothing to take it for himself.


    Luna''s eyes were sharp and clear. "Don''t worry, Miss. He won''t find anything." Natalie hadplete faith in her. She trusted Luna and Keith Jones implicitly. When she got home, her grandfather was already asleep, so she crept quietly upstairs.


    "Natty, you''re back?" Queena called out, her voice muffled by a face mask.


    Natalie nodded. "Yeah." She was tired and just wanted to shower and sleep.


    Queena could see her exhaustion. "Did your luck turn around tonight?" she asked with a smile.


    Natalie thought about meeting Mr. James. Was that good luck? She wasn''t sure. "You''re never wrong. If you say my luck turned, then it must have."


    "Alright. You look exhausted. Go get some sleep. We can talk tomorrow." Queena waved and disappeared into her own room.


    Natalie smiled at her retreating back and went to bed.


    Joanna, however, was far from calm. The moment she got home, she recounted the evening''s events to her parents, framing it as Natalie stealing her glory but conveniently leaving out the part about Natalie speaking fluent French.


    "Dad, Mom, it was such an important event, and Natalie just had to show up and make a scene! She obviously hasn''t given up on Sebastian. She''s just trying to get his attention."


    Aaaah! I''m going to lose my mind! Natalie was not only more beautiful, but now she was starting to showe her talents. Joanna''s sense of insecurity, always simmering


    th the surface was.el.ne


    boiling over. Worse, she was terrified of what Marshall might do. That man was dangerously vengeful.


    Nathan and Wendy were furious on her behalf.


    Seeing Joanna so upset, Wendy, who had doted on her since she was a child, rushed tofort her. "Don''t be sad, Joanna. Natalie is nothing more than a petty troublemaker. She can''tpare to you go see her myself tomorrow and make it clear. she needs to stay far away from any ce you are."


    Nathan and Joanna exchanged a look of relief.


    Joanna hugged Wendy''s arm, feigning concern. "Mom, you don''t have to. Natalie


    is your real daughter. Don''t let me get in the way of your rtionship."


    Hmph. As if they have a rtionship. Wendy had been so thoroughly manipted


    by her and her father that she would always believe Joanna over Natalie. Everything the Don family had, and Sebastian himself, would be hers.


    Wendy looked at Joanna''s considerate behavior and then thought of Natalie''s sharp tongue, and a headache began to form. She truly didnt understand why Nafalle had be so vicious. She decided she would visit her tomorrow, see how she was living, and give her a firm warning not to bully Joanna.