And have to smell his smoky old-fashioned ways.


    In their entire rtionship, she had never once felt cherished or loved.


    She was the only one who had loved, the only one who had given, and in the end, her reward was a brutal death for both her and her unborn child.


    She was someone who could love fiercely and let gopletely.


    But thinking about it now, she was still so angry, so unwilling to ept it.


    Sebastian had taken her love for granted, treating her opinions as if they were nothing. He never respected her, never cared for her.


    On their wedding night, after dropping her off at home, he had told her coldly, "Natalie, I married you for our grandfathers'' sake. But I will never love you."


    He left right after saying that. Not long after, he had the car ident. For two long years, she had taken care of him, attending to his every need.


    And that damn Sebastian had repaid her with nothing but neglect and contempt.


    Looking back, she really couldn''tpare to Joanna. One phone call from Joanna, and he would drop everything and rush to her side. He was always there for Joanna, doting on her, protecting her. That was what real love looked like, wasn''t it?


    Even in this new life, she could still feel that heart-wrenching pain of being ignored, of being utterly insignificant to him.


    Natalie took a deep breath. Stop it. Don''t think about it anymore. I am good, I am exceptional, and I deserve someone who will give me their whole heart.


    But her connection with Sebastian went far deeper than this. She had known him long before, but he didn''t remember her.


    Natalie''s eyes snapped open as her phone buzzed with a message from him.


    [Natalie, if youe home, I will go exin to your mother. You weren''t lying aboutst night.]


    The short message wasced with an unyielding,manding tone.


    Natalie let out a bitterugh. How did he have the nerve to send something like this?


    She quickly typed back: [Sebastian, you''ve got some serious nerve. Who the hell do you think you are? You''re a damn yer. Get lost.]


    After sending the message, she blocked his number.


    Sebastian had been waiting for a sign of reconciliation, but instead, he was called a damn yer. His expression turned impossibly dark. He tried calling her directly but after several attempts the line remained busy.


    His grip on the phone tightened.


    She had blocked him again.


    He looked at their message history, which was frozen on the day before they signed the divorce papers.


    [Sebastian, your stomach is sensitive, remember not to eat anything spicy. I''m making your favorite slow-cooked ribs tonight, so remember toe home for dinner.]


    [Sebastian, it''s really hot today. Don''t sit right under the air conditioner; you know it gives you a headache.]


    He scrolled up and up, seeing an endless stream of her concerned messages. He had always ignored her, found her clinginess annoying. He was a grown man did she really think he couldn''t take care himself?


    Now that she was gone, he had the peace he thought he wanted, but it felt like


    something essential was missing.


    He loved the ribs she made.


    Because he liked them, she cooked them often, and she was exceptionally good at it. Sebastian suddenly realized it had been nearly five months since she''d left, and in all that time, he hadn''t enjoyed a single meal cooked by his chef He kept thinking about the simple,


    home-cooked dishes Natalie used to


    make, all his favorites.


    Staring at his blocked number, Sebastian''s face was grim. Her words-I will never


    love you again-echoed in his mind, making him increasingly agitated.


    He looked at Sean, who was driving. "Sean, it''s been days. Have you found where Natalie is living yet?"