Wayne had some free time and wanted to take Natalie out. Queena was also avable, so the three of them decided on a trip to the beach that morning. Natalie loved the ocean, and so did Queena, so Wayne was happy to oblige.


    Ever since she was a little girl, Natalie had loved getting piggyback rides from Wayne, ying games with the waves. Even now, her inner child was alive and well, and she was having the time of her life.


    Julian had run into them by pure chance. He was on vacation himself and hade to the beach, where he''d been stunned to see Natalie looking so sweet and happy. He couldn''t resist taking a video to send to Sebastian.


    Julian wasn''t a saint, but he wasn''t like Sebastian either-marrying Natalie while still pining for Joanna, embodying the very definition of a scumbag. Joanna could be high-maintenance, but beauty was in the eye of the beholder. Sebastian willingly let her humiliate Natalie, and that was the difference between being loved and not.


    Julian himself wasn''t interested in women and didn''t understand love, but even he felt Sebastian had gone too far. Natalie had loved Sebastian deeply, constantly keeping tabs on him. To be honest, she had been incredibly good to him. The year he had his car ident, she had been his legs and his eyes, her tireless care helping him recover with astonishing speed.


    But when Joanna returned, everything changed. Every time Joanna got hurt, the evidence somehow pointed to Natalie. Joanna gave off the impression of someone who could only share in the good times, never the bad.


    From a distance, Julian watched the three of them. His eyesnded on Queena,ughing with Natalie, and he felt a strange pang. It was an irritatingly bright sight.


    His phone buzzed, pulling his attention away.


    Sebastian: [Where are you?]


    Julian knew exactly what he was thinking.


    Julian: [What are you nning to do, Sebastian? You and the Scotts will only continue to humiliate her, put her down, and treat her with contempt. Everyone has their pride. Just stay away. Natalie is finally having a rxing day. Do you really want to ruin her mood?]


    Julian: [I''ve been back for a few days and did some digging on Natalie. I had no idea how talented she is. And now she''s with another man. Sebastian, you''re just used to her being good to you. That''s not love.]


    Julian had always disliked the Scotts and their smug attitudes, especially the way they derived pleasure from belittling Natalie. Joanna was the worst always subtly twisting things to make Natalie look bad she would seem wronged and concerned for Natalie, but a closer listen revealed she was directing everyone''s anger toward her. Natalie would try to exin, but no one ever believed her.


    Reading Julian''s message, Sebastian''s handsome face began to crumble. When he had viciously berated Natalie before, he had felt a sense of satisfaction. Why did she have to Bully Joanna? The title of Mrs. Griffith was hers. But looking back, it seemed as if everything Joanna did was designed to drive him and Natalie apart.


    Sebastian''s eyes grew colder. Even Julian could see it. Was he really that blind? He had grown up in an unhappy home, raised by his grandparents. He rarely showed emotion and didn''t understand love. He scoffed. What did Julian know about what was in his heart?


    He tossed his car keys back onto his desk and returned to his work.


    On the beach, Natalie, Wayne, and Queena were tired from ying. They sat under arge umbre, eating grilled skewers and drinking beer. Natalie hadn''t felt this rxed in a long time. After the divorce, she could finally let loose and have fun without worrying if Sebastian had eaten.