Fearing she was hallucinating, Natalie pinched the back of her hand hard. The sharp sting confirmed it. "It hurts," she whimpered. "I''m not dreaming."


    Sebastian watched her, silent.


    Natalie stared at him, utterly terrified. Waking up to arge man looming over her bed was the stuff of nightmares.


    "Sebastian, what are you doing here? This is my room! What gives you the right to be here so early in the morning? Have you no manners? Have you ever heard of personal space?"


    He had been a veritable monk for Joanna''s sake, never touching Natalie after their wedding. He rarely even entered her room. It was only six months into their marriage, when he was drunk, that he''d finally slept with her, leading to her pregnancy and, a yearter, the death of both her and their child.


    This time, she wouldn''t let that unborn child, the one she was never fated to have,e to harm. Divorcing Sebastian was the only way to protect her future baby. It was the only way to avoid being thrown to her death.


    Sebastian calmly sat down on a nearby chair. "This is a Griffith family property," he exined. “And I am your husband."


    Natalie was speechless.


    "Even if it''s your property, you can''t just barge into a guest''s room! If I were any other woman, you''d be at a police station right now." She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the sleep from them.


    Sebastian watched her, seeing the genuine panic in her movements. He had never realized how cute she could be. Cute and feisty. It was the first time he''d ever seen her just after waking up. At home, she was always impably dressed. Now, she could sleep in, freed from the duty of waking up at six to make him breakfast.


    Wendy was right. Natalie had given so much. Joanna had done nothing, yet she had received all his favor. Joanna had grown up with him, and she had saved him from that fire. He was grateful to her. And before Natalie appeared, Joanna was his intended fiancée.


    But was it really Joanna who saved him that day? The answer, he realized, needed investigation.


    Sebastian remained silent, his purpose foring momentarily forgotten. But Natalie''s mind snapped back to the present. Divorce day.


    She sighed in frustration, her hands resting on theforter. The spot she had pinched was now a small, angry red mark. Sebastian''s gaze fixed on it. Is she an idiot? Why would she hurt herself like that?


    "Sebastian, I already agreed to the divorce and signed the papers! I''m not going to back out, you don''t need to drag me there at the crack of dawn!" she snapped, throwing back the covers. “Just wait for me. I''ll get dressed, and we can go to the city hall."


    She wasn''t fully awake yet, yawning as she padded toward the bathroom. It was probably just after eight. They still had time to get back. Ugh. Sebastian had been desperate for this divorce, yet he was the one who kept stalling the final step.


    As Natalie disappeared into the bathroom, Sebastian sat rigidly in the chair. He hadn''t slept at all. Wendy''s words echoed in his ears. He had not been blind to Natalie''s efforts, but he had always been convinced she was picking fights with Joanna.


    He stared out the window at the vast, blue ocean, his own eyes just as deep and unreadable.


    Natalie emerged ten minutester, dressed and ready. Sebastian was still gazing out the window, his profile sharp and devastatingly.


    handsome She had to ad


    Was breathtaking. Any woman


    would be captivated by his looks and powerful aura. A seventeen-year-old Natalie had been, and it had led her to ruin.


    A wave of sadness washed over her. She had loved this man with everything she


    had, truly and unconditionally.