His intense gaze followed Natalie''s slender figure as she walked away. She truly had no intention ofing back with him.


    Seeing that he wasn''t moving, Luna turned and followed Natalie.


    Sebastian watched as Natalie got into a luxury car parked by the curb. Luna took the driver''s seat, and they drove off.


    His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into tight fists. Natalie''s misunderstanding of him ran too deep.


    He took a deep breath and turned, only to find Julian standing right behind him.


    Julian offered a small smile, a faint light flickering in his eyes. "Sebastian, Sean told me what''s been happening. Honestly, if I were her, I wouldn''t forgive you either. I heard you gave Marshall thatnd on the west side to save Joannast night. The Spencer Group has been growing stronger these past few years. You won''t give your ex-wife a cent, but you throw away a fortune for Joanna. Anyone would think Joanna is the one you love."


    Sebastian frowned. "You don''t understand. Joanna and I grew up together..." He trailed off, unable to continue. The thought of Joanna''s recent actions soured the words in his mouth.


    "Last night was thest time. It won''t happen again," Sebastian said curtly and started to walk away. But the image of Natalie''s deste eyes haunted him, leaving a bitter taste.


    Julian watched his imposing back and shook his head slightly. He didn''t believe it was thest time, but he did believe that Natalie would never go back. Sebastian had grown up in darkness; he didn''t understand love. All he knew was that Joanna was like family to him, and if she was in trouble, he would be the first to protect her.


    Julian caught up to him, his next words a fatal blow. “Sebastian, even if you grew up together, how could you help an outsider bully your own wife? Even with evidence right in front of you, you should have at least listened to her exnation."


    "Take my advice: Natalie is noting back."


    Sebastian''s hands clenched tighter. Why was Julian so damn talkative?


    "Let''s go. Time to eat." He hadn''t had dinner yet, having waited for Natalie. A dull ache was starting in his stomach.


    Julian fell into step beside him, and they got into the car. Sean started the engine.


    "To the private kitchen up ahead," Sebastian instructed.


    "Yes, sir."


    Julian scrolled through his phone, dropping the topic. There was no point arguing with Sebastian; once


    could change it. He didn''t want to anger him further. Julian''s


    he''d made up his mind,


    expression deepened. The Natalie he''d seen tonight was truly beautiful, a breathtaking kind of beauty. He knew the real reason Sebastian had married her-it had been a mistake from the start.


    Sebastian sat in silence, his eyes downcast, lost in thought.


    His phone vibrated. It was Joanna. He hung up without a second thought.


    Natalie''s words echoed in his mind: "Whenever Joanna calls, I''m always the one who gets abandoned."


    He remembered that time a while back when she wasn''t feeling well, and he''d left because Joanna had called. Why hadn''t she said anything?


    Frustrated, Sebastian closed his eyes.


    At the Scott family estate, Joann? had been trying to call Sebastian all day, but he wouldn''t pick up. Panic set in After what had happened, had Sebastian seen her true colors? Did he believe Natalie now, not her? nother?


    Joanna was on the verge of tears. Seeing


    eer fathere downstairs,


    she cried out, "Dad, Sebastian isn''t answering do my calls! What do