"You staged your own kidnapping to frame Natalie, all so I would divorce her,


    didn''t you? I''m not blind to your little tricks. I just let you get away with hurting her," he continued coldly. "But you''ve gone too far. I''m done being nice to you."


    With that, Sebastian turned, walked back into the vi, and locked the door, leaving Joanna standing alone in the biting night wind, her thoughts in chaos.


    He really didn''t trust her anymore. Damn you, Natalie. She had spent her entire youth charming Sebastian, and now it was all unraveling. How had Natalie managed to find evidence against her thosest few times?


    "No, I can''t lose. I will not lose to Natalie," she vowed. She had too much left to aplish. She couldn''t fail now.


    "Natalie, you''re going to die for this," Joanna hissed through clenched teeth before storming off.


    Upstairs, Sebastian watched her leave, his expression growing darker by the second. He picked up his phone and called Sean.


    "Sir," Sean answered, his voice thick with sleep.


    "Why did Joanna really leave back then? Have you found anything?" Sebastian''s tone was sharp and impatient.


    Sean was instantly wide awake. The president''s icy voice sent a shiver down his spine. "Sir, I''ve been looking into it. It was two years ago, but I did find a small clue. I suspect Ms. Scott never actually left Yaro at all."


    "On August 15th, two years ago, records show she stayed at the KIN Grant Hotel for three days. But the reservation was only for one person. There''s no information on anyone else."


    Sebastian''s eyes narrowed. Could what Natalie said be true? And why did Joanna suddenly show up tonight? If she never left Yaro...


    "Keep digging," Sebastianmanded. "I need to know for certain if she was alone back then or if someone was with her."


    Sean didn''t understand why they were investigating that maniptive woman, but he didn''t dare ask. "Yes, sir. I''ll keep looking and report back as soon as I have news."


    “Good.” Sebastian hung up and stared out the window. The night was quiet again, and Natalie was long gone. A knowing smile touched his lips. You can''t run from me, Natalie.


    ???


    He stood there for a long moment, a solitary figure framed against the dark ss, his handsome face etched with confidence. Then, the page of the Shattered mug in the trash can shed through his mind. He stiffened and turned, heading back downstairs.


    He retrieved the broken pieces from the bin and carefully ced them in a bag. Rummaging through the cab again he found a matching set of dinnerware and a collection of herbs she had meticulously prepared for his health.


    He stood up abruptly, the emptiness of the vi pressing in on him. The restlessness in his chest grew stronger. He remembered the first time he had met Natalie. She had, been so full of life, her eyes shining with passion and determination when she looked at him.


    But the Natalie he saw now...


    Natalie took a cab back home, where she found her grandfather and Wayne still awake and waiting for her.


    She walked in with a bright smile. “Grandpa, I''m back!”


    Mr. Sanders Sr. let out a sigh of relief. "Natty, we were just about deciding whether


    we needed tounch a rocket toe rescue you."


    A genuineugh escaped Natalie''s lips. "Grandpa, at your age, you should


    probably stick to riding a tortoise instead of a rocket."


    Mr. Sanders Sr. just grumbled. The old man had been genuinely worried. He knew firsthand how ruthless and cruel Sebastian Griffith could be. In Yaro, few people dared to cross him.


    Wayne''s expression, however, remained grim. “Natalie, what was Sebastian thinking, dragging you back to his house like that?"