Matthew leaned back on the sofa, rxed and at ease. "I''m still in pursuit. We met on a blind date. She''s a fascinating woman-brilliant and poised. I just don''t know if she''ll have me."


    Sebastian''s face instantly darkened. He was talking about Natalie.


    Julian''s interest was piqued. He knew many women were after Matthew, but he''d never shown interest in any of them, not even in the strategic marriagesmon in their circle. Who was this girl?


    "Oh? Who is she? I''ve never heard you mention anyone before. And now you''ve juste back and already found someone you like."


    "Well, if you''re interested, I''ll introduce you next time. I''m actually meeting her for dinner the day after tomorrow. Her name is Natalie." Matthew smiled, his eyes flicking almost imperceptibly toward Sebastian.


    Sebastian''s cold gaze shot toward him. "Mr. Monroe, it''s not good form to covet another man''s wife."


    Julian''s smile froze. Natalie? The Natalie he knew?


    He whipped his head around to look at Sebastian. The soft light cast shadows on his handsome face, and the pressure in the room dropped several degrees. Even the men ying cards in the corner felt a chill run down their spines.


    Julian waspletely bewildered. He''d been gone for a few months; what on earth had happened?


    Sebastian was furious. Why had he evene here, just to torture himself? He and Matthew were clearly bad news for each other. Everything seemed to be apetition between them.


    "Mr. Monroe, Natalie is still my wife," Sebastian reminded him coldly.


    Matthew smirked. "Oh? Because from what Natalie told me, she''s been divorced from you for months. And I did my research. You were the one who forced her to sign the papers. Your affair with Joanna, all the trending topics and staged photos everyone in Yaro knows you two are a match made in heaven. But no one knows Natalie was ever your wife."


    "So, the one who should be careful is you, Mr. Griffith. Don''t go harassing my future girlfriend just because you''re divorced."


    As Matthew finished speaking, he received another message from Natalie.


    [Mr. Monroe, I don''t think I can join you guys. I ate too much tonight, so I''m going for a walk. How about I treat you to dinner the day after tomorrow?]


    Matthew deliberately typed his reply in front of Sebastian: [Sounds good, Natalie.] Natalie: [xoxo]


    Matthew put his phone away and looked back at Sebastian. "Mr. Griffith, do you know what I felt the first time I saw Natalie?"


    Sebastian''s eyes were murderous, but he said nothing.


    Matthew was unfazed. He picked up his drink and took an elegant sip.


    "The moment I saw her, I knew. She was the woman I would spend the rest of my life trying to marry."


    The one you threw away is the one someone else would do anything for.


    Sebastian''s fist tightened, ready to fly, but Julian grabbed his arm, stopping him He looked at Matthew sensing something was off


    Matthew was a man who ran deep.


    Sebastian stood up and walked out. Julian shot an apologetic look at Matthew. "Mr. Monroe, you guys enjoy yourselves. Tonight''s on me. We''ll have dinner together some other time:


    Matthew smiled. "Another time."


    Julian chased after Sebastian. Once they were in the car, he couldn''t hold back


    any longer. “Sebastian, what the hell is going on?"


    Sebastian leaned back, his head aching. "It''s nothing," he said in a low voice.


    Julian didn''t believe him for a


    second, but he knew Sebastian still


    Gl


    had feelings for Joanna. "Look, I know you were forced to many


    Natalie Joanna''s back now.


    Divorcing Natalie to marry her makes sense, doesn''t it?"