Just as she was about to dial, she heard his ringtone. Joanna spun around to see Sebastian standing not far away, his expression dark as he stared at her.


    Natalie and Queena saw him too. He stood under the bright mall lights, an imposing and unapproachable figure. Natalie gave him a brief, indifferent nce and started to walk away.


    Sebastian stepped in front of her, blocking her path. His voice was a low, rich baritone. "Natalie, giving Joanna a card to use was my mistake. I was careless and didn''t consider your feelings. From now on, I''ll give you a card. You can buy whatever you want."


    His words made herugh, a bitter, humorless sound. How could he have the audacity to say that? She didn''t want his money. She just wanted back what he owed her.


    "No, thank you, Mr. Griffith. Speaking of which, I spent a hundred million of my own money on treating your eyes and legs back then. I''d like that back, please. Since you''re wealthy enough to give your mistress billions, I see no reason why I should have treated you for free."


    "I''ll have Sean send you an itemized list of all the medical expenses. You can verify them yourself. I won''t ask for a penny more than what I''m owed."


    "Natalie, do you have to speak to me like this?" he pleaded, his voice strained. "I know I was wrong before. I was too focused on business. It won''t happen again


    "What ''again''? There is no future for us!" she snapped. "If you really cared about me, you would finalize the divorce. Joanna has been provoking me like this for two years straight. Even when she was abroad, the taunting texts never stopped."


    "Natalie, you''re framing me again!" Joanna cried, rushing to Sebastian''s side. "You''re trying to make me look bad in front of Sebastian! I never sent you any provoking text messages!" She prayed Natatie wasn''t foolish enough to actually show him the texts.


    ve


    Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Sebastian. "Sebastian, I would never do something like that. Natalie is always trying to frame me."


    "From the day you left, you''ve been sending me taunting messages and photos of the two of you together," Natalie said tly. "I showed them all to Sebastian. Are you going to deny it now? Joanna, you are as disgusting as a pile of filth."


    Joanna burst into tears. "Waaah! Natalie, you''re just a crude country girl! Your words are as foul as you are! No wonder Sebastian doesn''t like you! You were married to him for two years, and you were treated worse than a maid! At least the maids got paid a few thousand a month, you cooked and cleaned for free! Sebastian did that to make you understand your ce-that in his eyes, you''re worth less than a servant!"


    Joanna spun her own interpretation of Sebastian''s actions. Natalie had always known he didn''t respect her, but hearing Joanna spell it out so cruelly still felt like


    a dagger to the heart. She bit her lip, the pain sharp and real.


    Queena could see that Joanna''s words had hit their mark. She red at


    Sebastian. "You''re a shameless coward, Sebastian! You let your mistress bully your own wife! You used Natalie as a pawn, and now you want to hurt her again..."


    "Queena, don''t. Let''s just go," Natalie whispered, her voice hoarse.


    But Sebastian blocked her path again. He looked down at her pained at his sides.


    face, his fists clenchehe past.


    "Natalie, apologize for


    was wrong. I''ve cancelled Joanna''s card. From now on, there wilbbe nothing between us." His


    Willbe


    exnation was concise and clear.


    Natalie just looked at him with disdain. "I am an untouched woman, Sebastian.


    Why would I want a man who''s been with Joanna?"