Sebastian''s voice was cold. "That won''t be necessary. I have a wife. I don''t need another woman by my side."


    Joanna was stunned. His wife. He''d finally admitted it.


    Her face clouded with hurt, but her tone wasced with a bitter sarcasm she couldn''t suppress. "Sebastian, you didn''t even have the guts to admit you were married, but now you''re calling her your wife? After everything you''ve done for me, what does that make me?" Joanna knew exactly how to y on Sebastian''s guilt. She understood his temper, his triggers, and what it took to earn his sympathy.


    She had a trap set for tonight''s g, one that would make Sebastian despise Natalie for good.


    Sebastian stared into her mocking eyes. "If you think I''ve wronged you, then give me back that billion dors."


    He tossed his jacket onto a table and loosened his tie, his irritation mounting. With Natalie gone, he hadn''t had a moment of peace.


    Joanna froze, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. He''s changed. He''s really changed. She had attempted suicide, and he hadn''t even flinched. He truly wasn''t going to look after her anymore.


    But she still had an ace up her sleeve. Tonight, Sebastian would have to take her. "Sebastian, your father is back. He insists that I be your date for the g tonight. He''s never approved of Natalie. If you don''t want him to cause trouble for her, you''lle with me."


    This was her trump card. In the Griffith family, Chairman Griffith doted on her like a daughter.


    It was only Sebastian''s mother who had despised her, seeing through her vile schemes from the start. But what did that matter? Joanna had been the one to get her sent to a psychiatric hospital.


    Some people see the truth and say nothing; others speak up, but no one believes them.


    Sebastian used to be the same way, wasn''t he? He''d despised Natalie and wanted nothing to do with her, so he''d seen Joanna''s maniptions and kept his mouth shut.


    With that history on her side, Natalie stood no chance.


    Joanna''s voice softened into a gentle reminder. "Sebastian, you know he looks down on Natalie e thinks she''s beneath you,mon Now that she''s left you and has no connection to the Scott family, it would be child''s y for him to do something to her."


    Joanna knew that Sebastian understood his father''s cruelty better than anyone. His parents'' marriage had been a union of


    dynasties. Within two years


    his


    father had devoured his mother family business. While his father gallivanted around town, he orchestrated a grand public proposal to a young college student, a spectacle the entire city of Yaro still gossiped about with envy.


    Sebastian''s mother lost not only her family''s legacy but also became the biggest joke in a tragic marriage. Her only mistake was being too naive, cing all her hopes in a man who left her with nothing.


    No one could match the malice of Sebastian''s father.


    At her words, Sebastian''s gaze turned to ice. He knew better than anyone what his father was capable of. Natalie was the most innocent


    person in this whole affair, yet


    Joanna was still using her


    threat.


    ''el


    A faint, cold smile touched his lips. “Joanna, it seems I''ve underestimated you.


    You''re not nearly as simple as you appear."


    With that, he turned and went upstairs to change.


    A wave of shock washed over Joanna. He''d agreed. He was doing it to protect Natalie.


    A toxic mix of jealousy and pain churned inside her. Sebastian, you can only love me!


    Natalie, tonight, you''re finished.


    After returning home, Natalie and Luna had a quick bite to eat before changing


    and heading straight to Mr. Wilson''s g.