"I told you, I won''t let you bully me anymore. Sebastian, you will pay for every humiliation you''ve put me through." They had already killed her once. Did they want to do it again? No. This time, she wouldn''t give them the chance. "If you want to drag this out, fine. But you''ve ganged up on me again over what happenedst night. Sebastian, I will get my revenge. You''d better protect Joanna. Don''t you ever let her fall into my hands."


    Natalie''s eyes were cial, her tone demonic, yetced with an anguish she couldn''t contain. With that, she turned and walked toward the elevator.


    Sebastian started after her, but was intercepted by Joanna, who had just arrived.


    “Sebastian!" She grabbed his arm. “I''ve been looking all over for you. Didn''t you say you were taking me to lunch?"


    His eyes were cold as he looked down at her. "Joanna, did you go homest night and tell your parents that Natalie stole your credit?"


    Joanna froze. How... how does he know?


    She recalledst night''s events, and her anger red anew. "Sebastian, I was just upsetst night. You didn''t even drive me home. I justined a little when I got back. I didn''t know Natalie woulde running to you to cause trouble."


    "This isn''t about causing trouble, Joanna! You couldn''t understand a word Mr. James was saying. Natalie tranted for four hours to help me sign that contract. Don''t you have an ounce of gratitude?"


    "And she hasn''t bothered me once since the divorce. Why would you tell your parents she''s harassing me? I may have grown up with you, but I will not tolerate your lies, one after another."


    The coldness in his eyes frightened her. Tears welled up as she looked at him, her expression one of pure vulnerable innocence. It finally régistered that he had called her by her full name, something he never did. A wave of panic washed over her.  S


    "Sebastian, it''s not a big deal. I was in a bad mood. Can''t a person vent when they''re upset?"


    "But because of your lies, your ebf


    mother came here today to harass Natalie!" Sebastian pulled his arm free. The image of Natalie''s


    tormented face made him want to


    hit something. He turned and strode away without another word to Joanna.


    Wendy, who had followed them out, overheard the entire exchange and stood frozen in ce. Natalie hadn''t lied. Joanna had.


    "Ah..." Wendy''s mind shed back to the cruel things she had said, and she ran in a panic to find Natalie.


    Natalie was in no state to take the elevator. She ducked into the fire escape, and in the dim light of the stairwell, she finally broke dow copsing onto the steps


    sobbing. She had thought she was over it, but her heart had betrayed her.  S


    Natalie cried, letting it all out, knowing it was the only way to release the pain. Only a good, hard cry would ease the suffocating tightness in her chest.


    Sebastian found her there, sitting on the stairs, weeping. His gaze was fixed on her thin, trembling shoulders, and a sharp pain shot through him. He started to move toward her, but the ringing of her phone stopped him in his tracks.