"You can tell Natalie loves you. A divorce would crush her."


    Sebastian''s mind shed back to earlier that day-to Natalie, sitting on the stairs, her shoulders trembling as she cried, telling someone on the phone she would never love him again. A pang of guilt twisted in his gut.


    "But I don''t want a divorce," Sebastian said suddenly.


    Julian stared at him. "Aren''t you in love with Joanna? Why wouldn''t you get a divorce? Sebastian, you can''t do this to Natalie. You have another woman in your heart, and now that she''s back, you should let Natalie go. It''s not fair to her." "No one waits around forever, you know. You''ve neglected Natalie for two years." "And honestly, I don''t get you. If I cared about a woman, even a little, I wouldn''t let her get tangled up with anyone else. But you? You seem to want it both ways."


    Sebastian''s brow furrowed. "Why doesn''t even you believe me? There''s nothing going on between Joanna and me. She saved my life back then, so I''ve always been more lenient with her, but I never thought my tolerance would enable her to make such terrible mistakes."


    Julian frowned, but seeing Sebastian''s reluctance to borate, he didn''t press the issue. “Fine, fine. It''s your life, none of my business. I just want to remind you, no matter how much vengeance you''re carrying, don''t take it out on an innocent woman."


    The image of his mother''s sudden descent into madness shed in Sebastian''s mind, and his eyes turned icy. He had always suspected the Scott family was involved.


    Julian sighed in resignation. Sebastian had always been cold, but his treatment of Joanna had always been a clear exception.


    "Still, divorcing Natalie would be good for both you and Joanna..."


    "Good in what way?" A dangerous glint flickered in Sebastian''s eyes, his


    handsome features darkening. He would not divorce Natalie.


    "Let''s drop it. You


    want to go home?"


    The thought of Natalie''s


    conversation with Matthew ignited a


    nameless fire in his chest. He


    reyed the day''s events, her confrontation with Marshall, and realized he had hurt her twice in one day.


    And this person Joanna supposedly had behind her? Was Natalie just saying that, or was there a side to Joanna he had never known?


    Someone who wanted to take down


    both the Spencer and Griffith families? Where would she get that kind of ambition-or power?


    Ultimately, Sebastian still leaned toward trusting Joanna. They had grown up together; she couldn''t possibly harbor such grandiose ambitions. He tried to convince himself of it, but a seed of doubt had been nted.


    What was this evidence Marshall had? Natalie seemed so sure of herself, yet she wouldn''t reveal it. What could it be?


    Sebastian had never questioned Joanna before. But her recent, repeated


    attempts to frame Natalie, all backed by fabricated evidence, made him realize he had to look into the past.


    He sent a message to Sean.


    [Sean, discreetly investigate the real reason Joanna left all those years ago.]


    Sean replied almost instantly: [Right away, sir.]


    Since Julian hadn''t been drinking, he drove Sebastian home. He dropped him off at the curb without going inside and drove away.


    Sebastian walked into the vi, his gaze sweeping across the cold, empty hall. The light in his eyes grew darker, more menacing. In two years, Natalie had seeped into every corner of his life.


    The thought that she had blocked his number made his grim expression turn murderous. He then remembered how she refused to even admit she had saved his life,


    just to distance herself from him. The anger in his chest burned hotter, but when he pictured the utter disappointment in her eyes, he felt, for the first time, that he might actually lose her for good.