Thinking of her encounter with Yvonne earlier, Natalie let out a coldugh. Yvonne must have called Jerome toin, which was why he was so eager to call her.


    "Hello," she answered.


    "Natalie, it''s me. I''m downstairs at yourpany. I heard you were bullying Joanna again today. I''m here to settle the score. You have three minutes to get down here, or I''ming up to your office." Jerome''s voice was arrogant and threatening.


    Natalie scoffed. "Jerome, I''ve already cut ties with your family. Besides, Joanna has always been the one doing the bullying. You want to teach me a lesson? Dream on."


    "You just wait. I''ming down, and I''m not holding back this time."


    Natalie hung up, grabbed her bag, and headed downstairs. She was nning to leave for the day anyway; she had dinner ns.


    She quickly reached the ground floor. Jerome was standing by the entrance, handsome and well-dressed, but clearly not the brightest bulb. The four Scott sons had been utterly spoiled. Their parents, especially Nathan Scott, didn''t seem to care much about their four grandsons.


    He saw Natalie approaching and sneered, "Natalie, you got down here fast. Now, go back and kneel before Joanna to apologize, and I''ll forgive you."


    Just then, Wayne''s distinguished figure walked through the door. Natalie''s face lit up. "Bro. You''re here! I''ve missed you so much!"


    Jerome let out a derisiveugh. "Natalie, haven''t I told you? You''re just our adopted daughter. Don''t call me ''brother'' when we''re out. Miss me? You''re not worthy."


    "I''m warning you, don''t call me brother. I don''t have a sister as vicious as you."


    Natalie gave him a look as if he were an idiot, then brushed past him and threw herself into Wayne''s arms.


    Jerome turned around, realizing Natalie hadn''t been talking to him. The words he had just spoken hung in the air, and he felt a wave of embarrassment so intense his toes curled. But seeing her so sweetly call another man ''brother'' ignited an inexplicable irritation in his heart. He was supposed to be her brother.


    "Are you here to pick me up?" Natalie asked happily, linking her arm with Wayne''s.


    "Mm-hm. You promised to have dinner with me tonight. I made reservations and ordered all your favorites."


    "Hehe, you''re the best. I wish Lennon and Owen were home too, then we could all go together."


    Wayne smiled fondly and ruffled her hair. "They''re not angry with you anymore, now that they know you''ve left the Scott family."


    Natalie knew Lennon and Owen had been furious. "I''ll wait for them toe back."


    "Good. By the way, Lennon heard you started working at thepany and give you a surprise. Did you get it?"


    "Hehe, I haven''t had a chance to check my phone." Natalie pulled it out and saw a transfer for $999,999. Her eyes widened. "Wow, that''s a lot!"


    "Well, he was angry when you left because he was afraid you''d be mistreated there. That''s why he was so mad."


    Natalie''s eyes welled up. "I know. I


    know you all love me the most. But we cant leave just yet have


    something to take care of. Big Brother, you can just watch from the side."


    "Hey! Natalie, I''m your real brother-"


    "You are not my family. What was the first thing you said when you walked in? That I should go and knee to apologize to Joanna and


    then you''d forgive


    me?"


    "I haven''t done anything wrong, and I will not apologize to her. Go ask her if she


    even dares to ept an apology from me."


    "And you yourself said I''m just your


    family''s adopted daughter. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I''m not


    even that. I stoned the papers I have absolutely no connection to the Scott family anymore."