Her cold eyes held a faint, mocking smile, a clear warning to keep his distance. Sebastian frowned. He saw the unshed tears glistening in her eyes but said nothing. Instead, he bent down, scooped her into his arms, and instructed the police to carry Marshall. They headed back to the city.


    On the way, Sebastian drove Natalie and Marshall to the hospital. Luna and Sean followed.


    Marshall, still weak, muttered in frustration, "Natalie, this drug is strong. I still can''t feel my limbs."


    Natalie was in the same state. "It won''t wear off until morning. I''m sorry I dragged you into this. I thought I was prepared, but I still got you hurt."


    Marshall managed a weakugh, his handsome face filled with warmth. "Why are you apologizing, Natalie? They were targeting you because you came to rescue me."


    "I promised Mrs. Spencer I would get you out," Natalie exined. “I knew someone was nning to set you up, which is why I had people following you. That''s how I got the evidence. I hope you''re not angry. Your grandmother has lived a life of honor, and it would break her heart if something happened to you. She trusted me, and that''s why Joanna''s n failed. I did it out of gratitude. I hope you can understand."


    "You fool. I''m not angry. I can''t thank you enough," Marshall said, trying to reach for her hand but finding hecked the strength.


    From the driver''s seat, Sebastian listened to their conversation, a storm brewing in his eyes. So that''s why the surveince footage at his bar had been destroyed, yet Natalie had a video proving Marshall''s innocence. She had been one step ahead, tracking Marshall herself. He nced in the rearview mirror, his eyes meeting Natalie''s cold, distant gaze. It was a look he had never seen from her before. He realized then that she had said all that for his benefit. It was a warning.


    Sebastian sighed. He hadn''t trusted her before because he had seen things with his own eyes, and his dislike for her had made him


    vel


    s. He had het


    susceptible to Joanna''s


    manipu


    her,


    deeply How could he have been so stupid?


    On the drive, neither Natalie nor Marshall could fight off the drug''s effects any


    longer and drifted off to sleep.


    ...


    In Yaro, Joanna waited anxiously for news. She stood by the window, looking out at the opulent vis of their neighborhood, savoring the feeling of superiority it gave her. Her phone vibrated, and she snatched it up her eyes lighting up when she saw the caller ID.


    "How did it go?"


    "Ma''am, it didn''t go as nned. Natalie was rescued and taken to the hospital.


    Our men were arrested. And Marshall Spencer was with her."


    "What?!" Joanna shrieked, a flicker of fear in her eyes. "Who told you to mess with him?" Marshall was relentless; he wouldn''t let this go.


    "Ma''am, they didn''t know it was him.


    He had dinner with Natalie tonight, and they were both drugged when they left. But don''t worry, Storm


    Union never betrays a client Ever Natalie suspects us, she has mo proof."


    if


    "And while Marshall was locked up, we managed to steal another one of his


    deals. Surely that makes up for tonight''s failure, right?"